80 



6 



constructed, and the exterior almost carelessly ; but it is regular and neat in the inside, and in 

 form is almost semicircular. It is placed in a fork of the bush without being fastened to the 

 branches, and is always well hidden in the foliage. The total diameter is ten centimetres, depth 

 four centimetres. 



" The general complement of eggs is five, rarely four or six. They are slightly elongated, 

 slender, oval, or sometimes almost pyriform. In colour they are of a beautiful blue-green, almost 

 like the eggs of the Song-Thrush, and are marked with spots of reddish black, more numerous at 

 the larger end, and but few on the rest of the surface. These spots are often mixed with a few 

 streaks of different shapes. These markings can be easily washed off, and leave then only reddish- 

 coloured spots. The shell is delicate, fragile, and transparent. In size the eggs measure 20 

 millimetres by 16 mm., 21 by 15^, 20 by 15, 20 by 14J. In general character they resemble 

 those of the Common Bullfinch, but are less in size, and the ground-colour is more intense and 

 pure, while at the same time the spots are deeper. During the period of incubation, and when 

 the young are still small, the male sings continually, but in different places, and often far off, 

 but it frequently returns to the vicinity of the nest. When any person approaches, it calls 

 exactly like a Canary ; and the female uses the same alarm-note. As soon as the young com- 

 mence to be feathered, the male ceases his song, and becomes as shy as the female. When they 

 leave the nest, the whole family conceal themselves in the foliage, and it is very difficult to get 

 sight of them ; and they remain thus until they leave. Owing to their shy habits, then, I cannot 

 say when they do leave, but suppose it is as soon as the young birds can travel. In Siberia they 

 are common, and remain longer there than they do here. They nest there on young conifers." 



Von Nordmann gives the following account of its breeding in Finland : — " The nest consists 

 of thin twigs loosely put together. The eggs are white, with a few blackish red spots at the 

 large end. The bird arrives in Helsingfors in the middle of May, and in 1857 had fledged 

 young on the 25th of June. After having once heard the loud flute-like voice of this bird, there 

 will be no difficulty in recognizing it a second time, as it conceals itself in the tree-tops. It has 

 a Finch-like call-cry resembling that of Fringilla chloris." 



In India, Dr. Jerdon says : — " It frequents alike groves, gardens, and jungles, feeding on 

 various seeds and grain, also not unfrequently on flower-buds and young leaves. Adams states 

 that in Cashmere it feeds much on the seeds of a cultivated vetch. Now and then it is seen in 

 large flocks, but in general it associates in small parties. It breeds in Northern Asia. It is 

 frequently caught and caged, and has rather a pleasing song. Blyth says, ' the Tuti has a feeble 

 twittering song, but soft and pleasing, being intermediate to that of the Goldfinch and that of 

 the small Redpoll Linnet ; the call-note much resembling that of a Canary-bird.' " 



The following account of a caged specimen is given by Menetries : — "A male of this species, 

 taken in the neighbourhood of St. Petersburg, was kept in a cage for nearly two years. At first 

 it was of a beautiful rose-colour ; but in the following spring it moulted, and became altogether 

 grey (that is to say, like the female) ; and at the different seasons the moulting was effected with- 

 out returning to the first colour. It was easily tamed, did not sing, and was rather stupid ; and 

 when the other birds, especially the Titmice, attacked it, it contented itself with merely opening 

 its beak and shaking its wings ; and this was generally sufficient to drive away its assailants." 



In Dresser's collection are three eggs, obtained by himself at Helsingfors, Finland, on the 



