198 



THE YOUNG NATUKALIST. 



inner feathers ; tertials with broad yellowish margins ; tail dull black, the 

 two middle feathers greyish, the outer ones with narrow white outer margins, 

 a patch of white on the inner web, and the two outside feathers nearly all 

 white. Throat and breast purplish-rose colour, shading to white at the vent. 

 Legs and toes brown. 



In winter the whole of the colours are less bright, the white being tinged 

 with yellow, and the blue parts obscured by the brown margins of the 

 feathers. 



The Female has the upper parts greenish-brown, with a pale spot behind 

 the head. The green on the rump is not so bright as in the male. Throat 

 and breast dull fawn colour, under parts dull white, shaded with greyish- 

 brown at the sides. 



Immature Birds resemble the females, but are less bright in colour. 



Varieties of this species are comparatively common. 



White or Pale. — Some years ago my father had, a white specimen 

 brought to stuff, killed near Huddersfield. Two white specimens are in Mr. 

 Marshall's collection at Taunton. One is in the York Museum which is 

 white just tinted with local colours. One is reported (Zooi. xix, 7392) with 

 the " Head and back white, with the most delicate yellow tints over certain 

 parts, and a few brown feathers on wings and tail ; throat, breast, and under 

 parts white, tinted with rose/' killed in Norfolk. Mr. Bond has one of a 

 lemon colour, and another pale drab, killed at Paversham, and a similar one 

 killed in Sussex. Mr. Whitaker has a pale female, and a male with all the 

 colours very much subdued. Another very pretty male is also in the same 

 collection. 



Pied. — Mr. Whittaker has several pied birds, one killed in Suffolk has the 

 back of the neck white, the head, wings, and tail much pied. Mr. Bond has 

 a very light male, killed at Weybridge, and another with white ear-coverts, 

 and a female with a white head. Mr. Gregson has a very beautiful male, 

 with the front all white. 



Dark. — The only specimen I have seen darker than usual is one in Mr. 

 Bond's collection, killed near Hammersmith. The same gentleman has also 

 a male, which was kept for some time in the Zoological Society's Gardens, 

 which had, when living, a bright yellow patch behind the head. 



Note-— The male bird has a merry and pleasant song, which is commenced 

 early in the year. Both sexes have also a call note, resembling the syllables 

 " pink, pink," from which the local name of " Pink " or " Spink " has been 

 derived. 



