Genus SERINUS, Mihi.

Y .
Gen. Cuoar. Beak much abbreviated, convex, and blunt at the tip; the

mandible somewhat inflected, as are those of the under at the base, as far as the angle, which

is not very decided. Nos¢rils basal and partly hidden by small feathers. Win 2a's reaching

half way down the tail, and having the first four feathers nearly equal, the second being

the longest. Tail deeply forked. Toes feeble ; the inner the same length as the hind one.

Nails small.

SERIN FINCH.

Serinus flavescens, Mchz.
Fringilla Serinus, Linn.

Le Gros-bec Serin ou Cini.

Ir must not be supposed that we are partial to the construction of new genera (which, we fear, is often done
somewhat unnecessarily, ) because, in the present instance, we have removed the bird before us from the
systematic station it has hitherto occupied : the fact is, that on investigating its characters, we could not satisfy
ourselves that the Serin Finch has been hitherto assigned to any genus with which it strictly agrees. Closely
resembling the Siskin (Carduelis spinus,) in general form and colouring, it departs widely from that bird
the form of its beak, which, on the other hand, is neither that of Coccothraustes nor of Fringilla. Remarkable
for its short, blunt, and equally convex form, as well as for being peculiarly small, it has some similarity to
the beak of the Bullfinch, but wants the breadth and great lateral protrusion and roundness at the tip, which
in that bird both the upper and under mandibles so preeminently display: besides which the style of
plumage is also totally dissimilar. We trust that in these views we shall be borne out by the assent of other
naturalists, to whom we submit our opinions with due deference.

The native habitat of the Serin Finch is limited to the southern portion of the European continent, where
it is very abundant, especially in Italy, and the South of France and Germany, frequenting the borders of
streams, where willows and alders afford it shelter. It is also common in copses and orchards, where it breeds,
making its nest, which is of small dimensions, in low trees and bushes, of vegetable fibres and grasses lined
with wool. The eggs are five in number, marked at the larger end with brown dots on a white ground. Its
food, like that of the Finches in general, consists of seeds, such as hemp, plantain, &c.

The sexes differ in plumage, that of the male being distinguished by the greater predominance of rich
yellow; it may be thus described :

Forehead, throat, circle round the eyes, breast, and rump fine yellow ; back of the head and upper surface
greenish olive dashed longitudinally with dusky brown ; ear-coverts dusky olive; flanks olive grey with
stripes of brown ; abdomen white ; quills and tail blackish brown ; irides dark brown.

The female, with which the young male agrees very closely, wants the yellow forehead, and her chest is
dull yellow, thickly spread over with longitudinal dashes of brown ; the upper surface is less bright than in
the male, and the rump has only a trace of the fine yellow.

We have figured a male and female of the natural size.

edges of the upper

 

 

 

 

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