THE SERIN. 

 Serinus hortulanus^ K. L. Koch. 

 Plate i6. 



Over twenty examples of this little Finch have been noted in the British 

 Islands, while it is common in many parts of Central and Southern Europe, and 

 also in North-west Africa. 



The nest, according to Seebohm {British Birds, vol. ii. p. 85), "is generally 

 built in fruit-trees, but frequently in other small trees and shrubs." It is neatly 

 built of rootlets, stalks of grass, thistle-down, and wool, with a softer lining of 

 similar materials. The four or five eggs are white, with a greenish tinge, spotted 

 and marked with reddish-brown. 



Lord Lilford, in his work on British Birds, says: "The Serin is exceedingly 

 common in Southern and Central Spain, and in general habits somewhat resembles 

 the Goldfinch ; the nest, however, is composed of different materials, and the song 

 consists of a sharp sibilant murmur, much inferior to the pleasant notes of that 

 bird." 



In colour the female is duller than the male, and is more streaked with brown. 



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