SERIN, 
FRINGILLA SERINUS, Linn. 
Fringilla serinus, Linn. S. N. i. p. 820 (1766) ; Naum. v. 
p. 114. 
Serinus hortulanus, Yarr. ed. 4, ii. p. 111; Dresser, iii. 
p- 549. 
Serin, French; Girlitz, German; Chamariz, Verdecillo, 
Spanish. 
This little Finch, which is common in many parts of 
the continent of Europe, has been admitted into the 
British list on the strength of about a dozen occurrences 
recorded from Hants, Sussex, Middlesex, Somerset, and 
Norfolk. Mr. Howard Saunders, from whom I quote, 
considers that although the Serin is a common cage- 
bird abroad, and likely to be imported, the probability 
is in favour of the supposition that some, at all events, 
of these birds visited our country of their own free 
will; and as I share this opinion I give a figure of the 
species. 
The Serin is exceedingly common in Southern and 
Central Spain, and in general habits somewhat re- 
sembles the Goldfinch ; the nest, however, is composed 
of different materials, and the song consists of a sharp 
sibilant murmur, much inferior to the pleasant notes of 
that bird. 
