BRITISH SONG-BIKDS. 225 



proach within a few paces of it, before it flies off, 

 and then only to a very short distance. 



When any one approaches their nest, they utter 

 a plaintive, wailing note; which, even to man, con- 

 veys an expression of the feeling of pain. The fe- 

 male is very tenacious of her nest, and sits so close 

 that she may often be taken on the eggs with the 

 hand. 



Description and Plumage. 



The length of this elegant species is about six 

 inches, — ^bill bluish-grey, slightly tinged with 

 brown, — eyes umber-brown or hazel, — ^head rich 

 gamboge-yellow, streaked with umber and black- 

 ish-brown, — throat, breast, and under parts, pal« 

 gamboge-yellow; breast streaked with wine-yellow, 

 passing into yellowish-brown, — back and wing-co- 

 verts honey-yellow, inclining to yellowish-brown, 

 — the feathers of these parts marked in the cen- 

 tre with umber-brown, — edges of the primary 

 quills sulphur-yellow; the rest of the quill feathers, 

 and tail, blackish-brown, the last edged with yel- 

 lowish-white, and a little forked. 



The female is very like the male, only the yel- 

 low on her head is not so bright ; and indeed her 



