5 
and was not seen again. The next morning we were up at daybreak; but in spite of the most 
careful search we could not see another specimen, though several Water-Pipits were obtained 
both in adult and young plumage, the latter so young that they could not have left the nest 
many days previously. After breakfast we passed along the mountains, visiting the most likely 
spots, until we reached the Kalberscheuer (literally calf-house); but, though we once or twice 
heard and saw Citril Finches, we did not succeed in getting a shot at one, and, indeed, found 
them extremely shy. The summit of the Kalberscheuer, like most of the mountains, is bare of 
trees; and in the midst of the grass and bush-covered plateau a large building is placed, in which 
is a dwelling-house and hay-loft, the rest of the building being occupied by cows. Before 
leaving the woods we remained a few minutes to watch several Citril Finches which were 
flying from tree to tree, keeping, however, to the tops of the high firs; but we could not get 
within range, and gave up the pursuit in order to refresh ourselves with a bowl of fresh milk. 
On arriving near the house we observed a small flock of birds fly up from a field of high grass; 
and one, which perched on the fence within range, was at once shot, and proved to be a young 
Citril Finch, which could not have left the nest more than a week previously. ‘The herdsman 
who came to meet us told us that for some time past numbers of Citril Finches had regularly 
visited his field to feed on the seeds of the various kinds of grass and weeds, the latter of which 
were quite as numerous as the grass. He assured us that he had tried hard to find the nests, 
which were doubtless placed in the high fir trees not far distant, but that, owing to the rugged 
nature of the ground and the dense forest-growth, he had been unable to find a single nest. 
The first brood had flown; and he had remarked that some of the old birds were collecting 
materials for a second nest, for they came regularly to the dog-kennel to obtain the woolly hair 
cast by a rough thick-coated dog he kept chained there. Having been supplied with fresh milk, 
we sat down; and ere long the Citril Finches returned, and in about an hour’s time we shot 
seven specimens, and could have obtained more had we required them; for not less than forty or 
fifty birds were continually flying about and dropping down amongst the high grass and docks so 
soon as we were out of the way. By creeping amongst the grass I succeeded in approaching 
within five or six paces of several which were too busy feeding to notice my close proximity. 
They were climbing about the grass-stems and dock-plants precisely after the manner of Gold- 
finches, now so low down amongst the grass that I could not see them, and now clinging to the 
head of a grass-stem picking out the seeds, and bringing the grass down quite low with their 
weight. So long as I remained tolerably quiet, only watching them with a field-glass, they 
appeared not to notice my presence; but the moment I rose up from the ground they all flew off 
with extreme swiftness, uttering a melancholy twittering note. 
The flight of the Citril Finch somewhat resembles that of the Goldfinch, though it is a much 
swifter bird on the wing; but when dropping down on a field of grass it drops suddenly like the 
latter species. In many ways, however, the Citril Finch reminded me not a little of the Siskin, 
especially when I met with it in the woods, or rather on the edge of the woods; for it only 
frequents the outer fringe of the dense woods, or places where the trees stand well apart, or 
where there are a few large fir trees scattered amongst the bushes; and Mr. Schiitt informs me 
that it never frequents the non-evergreen groves, but is only to be met with where fir trees are 
abundant, and its nest is almost always placed in one of these. I had no opportunity of hearing 
3F2 
Dod 
