220 TREATISE ON 



instinct,) for the purpose of being near food when 

 their young are able to fly. The nest is composed 

 of bent, small pieces of dried twigs, and a little moss, 

 lined with hair. The eggs, four or five in number, 

 are of a reddish- white colour, slightly spotted with 

 reddish-orange ; somewhat like those of the grey- 

 linnet, but larger. The young may be taken at 

 seven or eight days old. This being a hardy bird, 

 it is easily brought up ; and ought to be treated, 

 both young and old, in the same manner as the 

 goldfinch, grey-linnet, &c. 



Description and Plumage, 



Length nearly six inches, — bill reddish-white, 

 tinged with very pale wood-brown, — eyes umber- 

 brown, — ^head, neck, back, and wing-coverts a 

 tint between oil-green and siskin-green, — the low- 

 er part of the back passing into sulphur-yellow to- 

 wards the tail, — primary quills, and tail, pale 

 greenish-black, margined with gamboge-yellow, — 

 sides of the neck, and upper parts of wing-coverts, 

 pearl and bluish-grey, — throat, breast, and under 

 parts, siskin-gi'een, inclining to sulphur-yellow, — 

 legs and feet pale flesh-red. 



