129 
1921.] Breeding Birds of Crete . 
Carduelis carduelis harmsi Reichw. 
Four adults in worn breeding plumage agree well with 
birds in similar plumage from Palestine. After a further 
examination of birds from the Caucasus, Asia Minor, Palestine, 
and Cyprus, I am confident that only one race of the Gold¬ 
finch occurs as a breeding species in these localities. The 
difference in the intensity of the colour on the back among 
freshly-moulted birds and worn birds is very remarkable, and 
accounts for the many races which have been described from 
the range of C. c. harmsi. 
Acanthis cannabina mediterranea Tschusi. 
I cannot agree with Stresemann (Avif. Macedon.) that 
A. e. mediterranea becomes a synonym of A. c. bella. 
The latter race was described from Syria, and all Syrian 
birds which I have examined are most certainly A. c.frin- 
gillirostris. Stresemann appears only to have examined 
birds from Asia Minor, and these are quite likely A. c. 
mediterranea. It does not follow that Syrian and Asia 
Minor birds are similar. A. c. bella must therefore remain 
a synonym of A. c. fringillirostris. 
A common breeding bird, but not seen below 2000 feet. 
Full-grown young were seen in early June. When I first 
saw these birds on Mount Ida, far away from bushes and 
among rocks and dwarf alpine plants, I thought they were 
Twites, more especially as I believe Drummond reported 
Twites from the island. I shot several of these Mount Ida 
Linnets, and I do not think the Twite exists in Crete. 
Fringilla ccelebs. subsp. ? 
Four males in worn breeding plumage appear to be less 
brown on the upper back than birds from the continent, and 
they are on the small side, the wings varying from 84 to 
88 mm. 
The Chaffinch is a common breeding bird from sea-level 
to the top of the Ilex forest at 5000 feet. Young were just 
out of the nest by the middle of June. 
Cretan name “ spinos.’'’ 
SER. XI.-VOL. III. 
K 
