with elongated brown patches a few clouded spots are also
to be seen on the back.
Young males after their first moult are intermediate in
the general tone of colour between that of the adult male
and the female, hut the yellow colour on the primaries does
not extend so far along each feather.*
The vignette represents the nest of the Hawfinch.
* I t is n°t intended here to disturb the generic divisions of the Fringillidce
adopted in former Editions of this work. To do so satisfactorily would require a
closer study of the family as a whole than is now in the power of the Editor to prosecute.
He however thinks it right to say that he believes the inclusion of the
Greenfinch in the genus Coccothraustes, of which the Hawfinch is the typical if
not the only species, to rest upon superficial grounds, and would decidedly prefer
the separation of the Greenfinch therefrom. In this case the generic term
Ligurinus, bestowed by Koch in 1816 (Saugth. u. Yog. Baiems, p. 229), takes
precedence of Chlorospiza given by Bonaparte. That of Chloris, applied by
Cuvier in 1800 (Leçons d’Anat. Comp. tab. ii.), has been objected to from its
similarity to the Chlora of botanists, but if it be used another specific term
needs to be found, and accordingly that conferred by Swainson in 1837 (Hist, and
Classif. of Birds, ii. p. 281) should be added, and the species will then stand as
Chloris flavigaster—for the various epithets by which the eldest Brehm had previously
tried to distinguish the indistinguishable “ subspecies” of this bird should
be disregarded by every one who has at heart the simplification of nomenclatural
puzzles.
PASSE RES.
S e r in u s h o r t u l a n u s , K. L. Koch*.
THE SERIN.
CERINXIS k . L. Koch f .—Bill hard, strong, short, somewhat conical, but very
, . . +he base and with the distal half suddenly diminishing to the tip ,
m a rb le s nearly equal in size, but the upper a
edges plain. Nostrils basal, supernal, round and hidden by projecting an
: S v S L t a l plumes. Gape straight. Wings with the first primary so mall
as to seem wanting ; the second, third and fourth nearly equal but the hi d
a trifle the longest-none of them however much surpassing the fifth which on
a T t Z , “ consider.hlj longer f t .« the sixth. Tail moderate rafter deep!,
forked. iLs«« slender, and shorter than the middle toe, sentellate in fion ,
covered at the side by a single plate. Claws small and rather weak.
T h e S e r in , a Finch closely allied to the Canary-bird and long
known to inhabit many parts of Europe, has of late years been
observed to be extending its range on the continent and, as
in such a case mightwell he expected,has appeared«. Eng and.
The first recorded example is that hy Mr. W. Hazelf (Nat.
• Saugthiere nnd Vhg.l Baiems, p. 229 (1816). I t ^
rightl, identified with the Fringilla. fm e oU of L.nmens (Sjst. Kat. Ed. 12, ..
p. 321) that epithet of course has priority over Koch s.
to ham been very fortunate in announcing f t . app»r-
England of exotic Finches. In the same note m which he, almos