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“common about the olive-groves near Sousa and other parts of Tunis, but decidedly rare in 
the mountainous and more elevated parts;’ and Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., says (Ibis, 1871, 
p. 293) that he “found it much less common at Blida than at Algiers, where some were seen 
consorting with Linnets, or singing from the bough of a fir-tree in a low, clear, continuous 
strain.” Favier states (fide Irby, Orn. Str. Gibr. p. 123) that it is “‘ very abundant near Tangier, 
both as a resident and on migration, when they are seen passing north in immense flights during 
February, returning in October and November.” 
In the islands of the coast of Africa it is replaced by the Canary (Serinus canarius); and in 
Palestine there is, besides the present species, a tolerably closely allied species (Serinus aurifrons, 
Tristr.) which is resident, whereas the present species is a winter visitant there. 
The Serin Finch inhabits the foot of the mountains skirting the plains, but does not appear 
to affect the plains themselves; nor is it found in the mountains, being there replaced by the 
Citril Finch. It is usually to be met with in the orchards and gardens and in the vineyards, 
frequently in gardens which are surrounded by houses, in which last locality it is tolerably tame— 
though, so far as my own experience goes, it is very shy and difficult of approach outside the 
town. During the fortnight I spent at Staufen in Breisgau (Baden), in June last, I never got 
within range of one outside the town, though on several occasions I saw and heard it. In the 
town itself I several times saw specimens; but as they doubtless had nests in the neighbourhood, 
and as, besides, it would not well do to shoot in the town, I did not obtain a specimen. It may 
easily be recognized by its call-note and flight. The former somewhat resembles that of the 
Canary, but may easily be distinguished by any one who has heard it. Its song is poor, and 
lacks both depth and melody, being merely a continuous twittering warble, generally uttered, it 
would seem, as the bird is seated on the topmost spray of some tree, usually a fruit-tree. Its 
flight is exceedingly swift, and may not inaptly be compared to that of a Sand-Martin, which it 
far more nearly resembles than that of any other Finch. It sometimes sings whilst on the wing; 
that is, it will fly up from the spray on which it has been seated like a Tree-Pipit, and will 
continue its song during the short time it is in the air. 
It feeds chiefly on seeds of various kinds; at least all those I have at different times shot, 
and the contents of whose stomachs I examined, had been feeding on these alone—grass-seeds 
and those of the various wild plants and weeds, chiefly such as are oily; and it appears always to 
shell the seeds and discard the husks before swallowing them. It seeks after food in fields, 
gardens, and especially in the vineyards, in which last it is usually to be found. 
Its nest is a very neat, compact little structure, very carefully made and neatly shaped. It 
is built of fine roots and grass-bents, and neatly lined with feathers and horse-hair. The outer 
portion of the nest appears to be interwoven with spiders’ webs; and a few bits of lichen and 
grey moss are affixed here and there. A nest in the possession of Mr. Carl Sachse, taken near 
Frankfort, is built in the fork between three upright small branches of a lilac tree, and is 
constructed entirely of fine grass-stems and rootlets, intermixed with cotton and woollen 
threads. These latter are utilized more especially to bind the structure to the branches, 
which is most effectually and strongly done, one of the branches being encircled at least a 
dozen times with a long piece of tolerably stout woollen thread. ‘The lining consists merely 
of somewhat finer grass-stems than those used in the construction of the exterior portion. In 
