THE BREEDING BIRDS OF MALTA. 169 



Nidification generally lasts from the beginning of May to the 

 end of June, one brood being generally reared during a season. 



12. Goldfinch. 



Carduelis elegans, Steph. — Gardill. 



This beautiful species, which visits us during both passage- 

 seasons, is generally scarce. I remember some years, however, 

 in which it arrived in considerable numbers. 



Both Schembri and Wright admit that it has been known to 

 breed here, and though I have been assured by several persons 

 that a nest or two are found nearly every year, I have only seen 

 one myself. This was built in a small tree in one of the large 

 gardens in the vicinity of Siggiewi ; in structure it was very 

 compact and deeply cup-shaped. The material composing it 

 was the common moss found growing on the trees in the same 

 garden, fine grass, and rootlets ; the whole was interwoven with 

 wool and what was most probably thistle-down. On the inside 

 it had a lining of horsehair. 



I was told that the nest was built in eleven days, but I could 

 not find out if both male and female took part in its construc- 

 tion. 



The contents of the nest consisted of four newly hatched 

 birds and an addled egg. The colour of this egg was white 

 faintly tinged with blue, spotted all over with reddish brown, the 

 spots being more confluent about the larger end. 



The nest was found on May 21st, 1913. 



13. Serin-Finch. 



Serinus hortulanus, Koch. — Apparell. 



Though the Serin is a fairly common migrant during the 

 Autumn, and in some years is seen in very large flocks, which 

 generally remain throughout the Winter, it seems to be only an 

 accidental breeder in these islands. It would perhaps breed 

 more frequently if it were not so much persecuted, and destroyed 

 in such great numbers by means both of the clap- and bat-nets. 



The only nest I have found myself was built high up in 

 a large carob-tree at the bottom of Wied Dalam ; it was a rather 



