5 
is placed in a somewhat peculiar situation; for Herr A. von Homeyer says (J. f. O. 1868, p. 285) 
that he caught a female near Frauenstadt on her nest, which was built in a hole of a willow 
tree about five inches deep. A curious instance of a double nest being built is recorded by 
Mr. Gurney, who writes (Zool. 1852, p. 3577) as follows :—“ During the spring of this year, in 
a thick bushy plant of an ornamental heath, growing in a garden a few miles distant from 
Norwich, were found two nests of the common Greenfinch, which not only were completely 
interwoven at the adjoining sides, but were built on one common platform, a foundation of 
fibrous roots and moss. Both nests were complete, except that one of them was deficient in 
interior lining. When found, I understand, there was one egg in each nest; but it was not 
ascertained whether the nests belonged to two pairs of birds or only to one pair.” 
The eggs of this species, from four to six in number, are white with a faint sea-green tinge, 
sparingly marked with pale purplish red shell-blotches and very deep-red surface-spots, the 
larger end being, as a rule, much more spotted and blotched than the rest of the surface of the 
ege. In size those in my collection vary from 35 by 76 inch to $4 by #4 inch. 
The specimens figured are the adult male and female above described. 
In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— 
E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 
a,b, 3,¢,@. Near London, May 20th, 1870 (Davy). d, 3. Cookham, Berks, January 5th, 1871 (R. B. 
Sharpe). e, 6. Palsgaard, Denmark, May (A. Benzon). ff, 3. Seville, February 27th, 1870 (H. 
Saunders). g,@. Rio Genil, Granada, Spain, May 1870 (H. Saunders). h, 3. Piedmont, April 1870. 
i, k,l, d,m, 2. Piedmont, May 1870 (Count Salvadori). : 
E Mus. Howard Saunders. 
a, b, 3. Seville, Spain, February 1870. c,3d,d@. Seville, March 1870. d,¢. Granada, June 4th, 1870. 
e, d. Sierra Nevada, March 1871. f, 6. Granada, May 1871. g, 6. Valencia, Spain, April 6th, 1873. 
h, @. Valencia, May 2nd, 1873 (H. S.). 
E Mus. C. A. Wright. 
a,@. Malta, November 1862 (C. A. W.). 
E Mus. G. E. Shelley. 
a, 3. Tangier, March 15th, 1873 (G. E. S.). 
E Mus. J. H. Gurney, jun. 
a, 3. Blida, Algeria, February 14th, 1870 (J. H. G.). 
o7vl 
