SERINU8 281 



eggs 4 to 5 in number resemble those of the Goldfinch, but the 

 blotches are not so dark and more spread out, and they are 

 smaller, averaging about 0*65 by 0*49. 



413. TRISTRAM'S SERIN. 

 SERDVUS CANONICUS. 



Sennas canonicus, Dresser, B. of E. iii. p. 555, pi. 171 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. 

 Br. Mus. xii. p. 372 ; aurifrons, (nee. Blyth), Tristram, P.Z.S, 

 1864, p. 447 ; id. Ibis, 1868, p. 207, pi. vii. 



<$ ad. (Palestine). Differs from S. hortulanus, in being larger, muck 

 paler and yellower, the under parts unstriated, the forehead, forepart of 

 the crown and a collar on the hind-neck rich golden yellow ; under parts 

 bright yellow, fading to dull white on the under tail-coverts, unstriped ; 

 bill, legs, and iris as in S. Jwrtulcmus. Culmen 0'4, wing 3*0, tail 2'4, 

 tarsus 0'6 inch. The female is paler and duller, and the young of the year 

 differs from the adult in having the yellow colour replaced by rich 

 russet, the golden yellow on the forehead being absent. 



Hob. Palestine, where it is resident, and possibly Syria. 



Inhabits the mountains, being common above 4,000 feet both 

 on Lebanon and Hermon. In habits it is said to resemble the 

 Siskin as also in its note, and its song is described as being 

 varied and clear. In the summer it inhabits the mountains as 

 high as the bush-zone extends, descending in the winter to the 

 edge of the snow-line, and there collects in flocks and is very 

 wild and shy. Its nest, which is conspicuously placed in the 

 fork of a tall shrub, resembles that of the Goldfinch, but is 

 shallower and not so neat. The eggs, from 4 to 6 in number, 

 are deposited in May, and resemble those of the Serin but are 

 larger, averaging about 073 by 0'50. It is just possible that 

 Bonaparte's Serinus syriacus (Consp. i. p. 523) may have been 

 an immature bird of this species, but the description is too 

 vague for identification, and the specimen appears to be no 

 longer in existence. 



414. CANARY BIRD. 



SERINUS CANARIUS. 



Serinus canarius (Linn.), Syst. Nat. i. p. 321 (1766) ; (Webb and Berth. ) r 

 Orn. Canar. p. 21, pi. 2 ; Dresser, iii. p. 557, pi. 172 ; Sharpe, Cat, 

 B. Br. Mus. xii. p. 370. 



<J ad. (Teneriffe). Differs from hortulanus in being somewhat 

 larger, in lacking the rich yellow on the head, the crown and sides of the 



