Class II. RED HEADED FINCH, 465 



ash color, spotted with black; the back and 

 scapulars are of a dull brownish red ; and the 

 breast and sides of a dirty yellow, streaked 

 with dusky lines. It is a common fraud in the 

 bird shops in London, when a male bird is 

 distinguished from the female by a red breast, 

 as in the case of this bird, to stain or paint the 

 feathers, so that the deceit is not easily disco* 

 vered, without at lest close inspection.* 



These birds are frequent on our sea-coasts ; 

 and are often taken in flight time near London. 

 It is a familiar bird, and is chearful in five 

 minutes after it is caught. 



It leaves Italy in flocks in September and 

 October. 



* Doctor Latham, in the second supplement to his Synopsis, 

 suggests the possibility that this and the common linnet consti- 

 tute only one species, the latter not completing the red on the 

 forehead till the end of the second year at soonest, though it is 

 capable of breeding in the first spring after it is hatched, Ed. 



VOL. I. 2 H 



