Dr. Heinckcn un Fringilla Canaria, Sj-c. 71 



only on the latter) similarly, but very slightly shaded. Abdomen, as far 

 as the legs, golden-yellow : vent, under tail-coverts, thighs, and sides, 

 dirty white, the latter with large longitudinal brown spots. Vertex, oc- 

 ciput, cheeks, back, larger wing-coverts, scapulars, and upper tail- 

 coverts brown-ash, with a longitudinal brown spot down each feather ; 

 indistinct, small, and light-coloured on the head, &c., large, dark, and 

 defined on the other parts. Remiges, tertiaries, and tail-feathers brown- 

 black, with pale brown-ash edges : the external margin of the first four 

 or five remiges white, of the rest pale greenish-yellow. Length 5^, 

 breadth 9 inches. Bill about 4 lines. Weight about i oz. Tail (which 

 is forked) 2 inches 4 lines. Tarsus about 8 lines. 



Adult female. — General plumage more dingy and indistinct ; rump 

 only greenish-yellow, with a tinge of the same round the eyes, and on 

 the throat, breast, and wing-coverts. 



Variety $ ( ? ?) General plumage more grey ; colouring more in- 

 clining to green : somewhat larger ; song the same. Its produce with 

 the tame bird stronger. 



Young male. — Like the female, but with the legs brown-black, and 

 the lower mandible darker. 



Young female. — No yellowish or greenish colouring. 



Habitat. Universal.* It builds in thick bushy high shrubs and trees, 

 with roots, moss, feathers, hair, &c. ; pairs in February ; lays from 4 

 to 6 pale blue eggs, and hatches five times (not unfrequently six) in a 

 season. It is very familiar, haunting and breeding in gardens about the 

 city. It is a delightful songster, with, beyond doubt, much of the night- 

 ingale's and sky-lark's, but none of the wood-lark's song, although three or 

 four sky-larks in confinement in Funchal are the only examples of any 

 of these three birds in the island, and notvnthstanding the general opi- 

 nion, that such notes are the result of education in the Canary : it is in 

 full song about nine months in the year. I have heard one sing on the 

 wing and peeing from one tree to another at some distance, and am told 



* Wherever this is stated, I wish it to be understood as applying to the south 

 side of the island only, although in most instances (I believe in this) it might 

 be extended to the north. Of the latter, in consequence of ill health, I know 

 little or nothing from personal observation. 



