108 CITRIL FINCH. 



heard frequently as it flies or immediately after 

 settling. The song of the male is variously described. 

 Bechstein compares it to that of the Canary bird, but 

 says it is not so shrill — something between a Canary 

 bird and Tree Pipit. Schinz compares it to the song 

 of the Siskin. It is really a loud, clear, pleasant song, 

 which may be constantly heard at the breeding-season, 

 from March to September. The female also sings a 

 little, but not so loud as the male. 



Many agreeable qualities combine to make the male 

 Citril Finch a favourite cage-bird, and it is kept by 

 amateurs in great numbers. It becomes domesticated 

 quickly, is easily tamed, and not difficult to keep 

 even for a long time. It feeds principally on the seeds 

 of firs or pines, and on those of many alpine plants, 

 and also destroys buds and blossoms, though probably 

 it does this, like the Goldfinch, in search of insect 

 larvae. In confinement it is fed, like other Finches, 

 on poppy or hemp seed, but with the last it gets too 

 fat, and it must not consequently be made its principal 

 food. 



It nests in the mountains of the countries above 

 named, in the Tyrol, and in many places in Switzer- 

 land on the southern Alpine chain. The nest is 

 sometimes placed in the thick stumpy alpine firs or 

 other pine trees, sometimes under the roofs of the 

 herdsmen's cottages. It is cup-shaped, and very well 

 and skilfully woven together. It is made of dry grass, 

 with moss and twigs more or less intertwined, is 

 tolerably smooth on the outside, and very beautifully 

 lined with many hairs of various animals, small feathers, 

 and husks of the poppy. 



The eggs are four or five in number, and in form 

 and colour very similar to those of the Goldfinch. 



