1853, p. 20), who said that a male was caught, in April
1852, near Eastney Fort, about a mile from Portsmouth, and
having been paired with a hen Canary-bird produced a brood
of mules, which unfortunately deceased. On June 20th,
1859, as recorded by Mr. Bond (Zool. p. 7105), a Serin’
believed to be a female, was caught near Brighton and taken to
Mr. Pratt of that town, while Mr. Rowley stated (Ibis, 1861,
p. 113) that he had been told of three other examples of the
species, taken by Brighton birdcatchers and cast aside from
ignorance of their value. Mr. Bond also in the same communication
mentions having seen a male captured soon after
the severe storm in October, 1859, near London. Mr. Cecil
Smith (B. Somers, p. 180) states that in January or
February, 1866, he was shewn an example said to have
been shot at Taunton, which passed into the possession of
Mr. Byne, of Bishop’s Hull, and was by him submitted to
Mr. Gould’s inspection. Mr. Monk announced (Zool. s.s.
p. 229) the capture, at Hove near Brighton, on April 19th,
1866, of a hen Serin, which he saw alive a few hours afterwards,
and this, with another of those obtained in that
neighbourhood, is now in his collection, where, thanks to
his kindness, the Editor has seen them. Mr. Bond too recorded
(Zool. s.s. p. 1984) another example which he saw
at a bird-stuffer’s at Brighton, taken, he was told, in April
1869. This is very likely the same as one noticed, according
to Mr Harting (Handb. Br. B. p. 112), by Mr. Lucas as
obtained at Worthing on May 4th in that year—though, as will
be seen, the dates do not agree. On April 16th, 1873, a hen
which was afterwards brought to the Editor by Mr. Borrer’
was procured at Brighton and is now in his collection.
In regarding all these occurrences it must, however, be
incidentally, mentions the first occurrence of the Serin, he stated that he pos-
sessed an example of Cnthagra chrysopyga (a West-African bird) taken near
I T Z / I ? , *0 ^ " SpeCimen dth e r °f A K sp Jo len s is o r rf Petronia s tu lta -he seems uncertain which-was killed a few years before about
venules from that place, and was then in the Museum of its Philosophical
as° he did not think Li« l V 111 Le S6nt *° the Author as he did not think fit to include it in his last Edition, the presoefn tt hEids itwoor rkd,e ebmust
it unnecessary to give the statement any further attention.
borne in mind that the Serin is a very popular cage-bird
on the continent, and has doubtless often been imported to
this country, where if one escaped it might easily subsist
for a longer or shorter time. On the other hand, must it
be remarked that the majority of examples recorded have
occurred in spring—the very season when a species like this
would in all probability reach England—and the dates
accordingly point to its appearances as voluntary acts. The
steady progress, mostly in a northward direction, which on
the continent this bird has of late years been making is
attested by so many trustworthy naturalists that it must be
taken as fully established, and since this fact has been
especially observed in Germany—a country wherein ornithology
has for so long a time been carefully studied the
less hesitation should be felt at its acceptance. The evidence
is too long for a summary of it even to be inserted
here.* Enough to say that there are many districts- in
which the species is now common, though within but a
few years it was rare, if not entirely unknown in them.
Of English ornithologists few have enjoyed better opportunities
of becoming acquainted with this bird than Mr.
Dresser, who has studied its habits in Western Germany, in
Styria, and in Spain. The following is the account which
he gives of them in his admirable c Birds of Europe.’
“ The Serin Finch inhabits the foot of the mountains
skirting the plains, but does not appear to affect the plains
themselves; nor is it found in the mountains, being theie
replaced by the Citril Finchf. It is usually to be met with
in the orchards and gardens and in the vineyards, frequently
in gardens which are surrounded by houses, in which last
locality it is tolerably tame—though, so far as my own
* The chief recent authorities for this and several other points of interest are
Herr Julius Hoffmann (Naumannia, 1852, iii. pp. 58-64), Capt. von Homeyer
(Journ. für Orn. 1862, pp. 97-106 ; 1867, p. 287 | Zool. Gart. 1.868, pp. 199-
202), Dr. Rohnhert (Journ. für Orn. 1864, pp. 396-398), Pastor Jäckel (Zool.
Gart. 1868, pp. 405-408), Dr. Liehe (Journ. für Orn. 1875, p. 206) and M.
Ner4e Quepat’s ‘ Monographie du Cini’ (Paris : 1875). _
f This species also is said to have occurred in England, hut through a mistake
(Zool. s.S. pp. 1984, 2022).
VOL. II. Q