(BLACK-HEADED SISKIN.)
+Chrysomitris barbata+, _Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S._ 1868, p. 140 (Buenos
Ayres); _Durnford, Ibis_, 1877, p. 172 (Buenos Ayres); _White, P.
Z. S._ 1882, p. 600 (Catamarca, Misiones); _Döring, Exp. al Rio
Negro, Zool._ p. 40 (R. Sauce, R. Colorado, R. Negro); _Barrows,
Bull. Nutt. Orn. Cl._ viii. p. 132 (Concepcion). +Chrysomitris
magellanica+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii. p. 489; _Gibson, Ibis_,
1880, p. 30 (Buenos Ayres); _Salvin, Ibis_, 1880, p. 355 (Salta).
+Chrysomitris icterica+, _Sharpe, Cat. B._ xii. p. 217.
_Description._--Above light olive-green; lesser wing-coverts same as
the back; wings black, a broad bright yellow band across the base
of the feathers; rump yellow; upper tail-coverts olive-green;
tail-feathers yellow at the base and black at the ends; head all
round and throat velvety black; beneath and under wing-coverts
bright yellow: total length 5·0 inches, wing 3·0, tail 1·8. _Female_
without the black on the head, otherwise similar to the male, but
less bright.
_Hab._ Brazil and Argentina.
This beautiful little golden-plumaged Finch, the male distinguished from
his consort by a brighter yellow colour and a black head, is extremely
common throughout the entire length of the Argentine country from
Brazil to Patagonia. In the Buenos-Ayrean district it probably has a
partial migration, as small flocks are seen to arrive in spring; but
further south, in Patagonia, it appears to be strictly resident. In
settled districts they are always more abundant than in the woods, and
they have a special predilection for poplar groves, and always prefer a
poplar to build in. They go in small flocks, seldom more than about a
dozen birds together, have a rapid, undulating flight, feed chiefly
on the ground like most Finches, and also frequently alight in the
seeding-time on plants like the lettuce and _Sonchus asper_ (a common
weed) and, clinging to the stem, dexterously pick off the seed,
scattering the down about them in a little cloud. They are very tuneful,
restless, quick in their motions, apparently always in a light-hearted
merry mood. Being much admired for their song, they are often kept in
cages; and certainly, for cheerfulness and constancy in singing, they
take the foremost place amongst the Finches; but there is little
expression in the song, which is composed of a variety of short
twittering notes, uttered with great rapidity, as the bird sits perched
on a twig or undulates from tree to tree. Usually the notes flow in
a continuous stream, but occasionally the bird sings in a different
manner, making a pause of two or three seconds of silence after every
eight or ten short notes. When the female is on the nest the male
sometimes perches near her amongst the leaves and sings _sotto voce_,
apparently for her pleasure only, the notes being so low that, at a
distance of ten yards, they can scarcely be heard.
The nest is usually placed between the angle formed by a small branch
and the bole of the tree, and is a deep, well-made structure composed of
many materials, and lined with horsehair, down, or feathers. The eggs
are five, very small for the bird, pure white, and so frail that it is
not easy to take them from the nest without breaking them.
While engaged in building, the birds constantly utter a low, soft,
trilling note; and when the nest is approached they break out into long,
somewhat reedy notes, resembling those of the Canary, expressive of
alarm or curiosity.