23 GITEIL FINCH. 



I have never happened to meet with it, nor do I know from others 

 that it has occurred there. It is a question whether it occurs in 

 Sardinia." 



The following- account of its habits is from Naumann: — It is a 

 cheerful restless little bird, very active in its movements, and somewhat 

 shy. It seems always full of joy, and is constantly heard even in bad 

 weather, or in the middle of alpine snow and storms. It is never 

 known to stay long in the same place; and appears in constant motion, 

 turning its tail from side to side, hopping or fluttering among the 

 boughs of the trees, or on the earth when it seeks its food; its spring 

 is quick, its deportment fearless. In all this its affinity with the 

 Siskin is remarkable. It resembles it also in its flight, especially that 

 of passage. It seems alike indiflerent to weather or temperature, and 

 only departs from its mountain home, when the ground is frozen, and 

 there is a deficiency of food. 



Its note is a gentle piping, described by some as *gu,' by others as 

 'qjiul' or 'qjiub.' This call is heard frequently as it flies or imme- 

 diately after settling. The song of the male is variously described. 

 Bechstein compares it to that of the Canary bird, but says it is not 

 so shrill — something between a Canary bird and Tree Pipit. Schinz 

 compares it to the song of the Siskin. It is really a loud, clear, 

 pleasant song, which may be constantly heard at the breeding-season, 

 from March to September. The female also sings a little, but not so 

 loud as the male. 



Many agreeable qualities combine to make the male Citril Finch a 

 favourite cage-bird, and it is kept by amateurs in great numbers. It 

 becomes domesticated quickly, is easily tamed, and not difficult to keep 

 even for a long time. It feeds principally on the seeds of firs or 

 pines, and on those of many alpine plants, and also destroys buds and 

 blossoms, though probably it does this, like the Goldfinch, in search 

 of insect larvae. In confinement it is fed, like other Finches, on poppy 

 or hemp seed, but with the last it gets too fat, which must not con- 

 sequently be made its principal food. 



It nests in the mountains of the countries above named, in the 

 Tyrol, and in many places in Switzerland on the southern Alpine 

 chain. The nest is sometimes j^laced in the thick stum|)y alpine firs 

 or other pine trees, sometimes under the roofs of the herdsmen's 

 cottages. It is cup-shaped, and very well and skilfully Avoven together. 

 It is made of dry grass, with moss and twigs more or less intertwined, 

 is tolerably smooth on the outside, and very beautifully lined with 

 many hairs of various animals, small feathers, and husks of the poppy. 



The eggs are four or five in number, and iu form and colour very 



