24 
Mr. C. G. Danford on the 
place of Giaour keui was undertaken next day—quite unsuc¬ 
cessfully j for not one S. pusillus was seen. 
The following morning an excursion was made from the 
above village along the banks of the Korkiin river to the 
northward^ when many floeks of the desired bird were met 
with^ and during the rest of our stay in the Ala dagh (19th 
to 28th of April) it was constantly observed^ both in little 
flocks and pairs^ at elevations of from 3000 to 5000 feet. So 
common was it_, that during a ride of eight hours from Giaour 
keui to Bereketlii^ at least a thousand of this species must 
have been seen. 
‘^^It appears to breed exclusively in the juniper trees^ which 
are here very numerous and large^ and form the characteristic 
and^ cedars excepted^ almost the only tree-growth of this part 
of the country. The dense foliage and close contact of these 
trees make the nests extremely difficult to find. Birds^ how¬ 
ever, were observed building; eggs almost ready for extrusion 
were taken from those shot; and on the 21st April a nest con¬ 
taining four eggs, and declared to belong without doubt to 
this species, was brought in. It was taken from a juniper 
tolerably high up; and there seems but little reason to dis¬ 
credit the identification, as the bird is so common and well 
known to the natives, whereas the ordinary Serin is quite rare 
among the junipers, preferring the fir-districts. 
In a large series the colour and size of the frontal patch 
is the same in both sexes; but the male diflPers from the female 
in having the black of the throat deeper and extended lower 
down, and the general plumage more richly tinted with orange. 
These juniper-districts of the Ala dagh are the only localities 
in which the present species was found, and are evidently the 
breeding-quarters of vast numbers of this beautiful little 
Finch.''’ 
The nest is made of fine grasses, mixed with lichens and 
lined with dark soft feathers. Mr. Dresser, to whom it was 
submitted, observes that it is larger than that of the ordinary 
Serin, and differs considerably in general appearance, but the 
eggs closely resemble those of that species. 
