

THE GOLDFINCH. 



CARDUELIS ELEGANS. 



Back of the head, nape, and feathers round the base of the bill black ; forehead 

 and throat blood-red ; cheeks, forepart of the neck and lower parts white ; 

 back and scapulars dark brown ; wings variegated with black, white and 

 yellow ; taU black, tipped with white. Length five inches. Eggs bluish 

 white, speckled with pale purple and brown. 



This little bird, as sprightly in its habits as it is brilliant 

 in its colouring, is perhaps a more general favourite than 

 any other British bird. Though in its natural state less 

 familiar with man than the Redbreast, and inferior as a 

 musician to the Lark, the Thrush, and others of our resi- 

 dent birds, it is more frequent as a caged bird than either, 

 and thus is known to tens of thousands of city folk who 

 never heard the wild song of the Thrush, nor saw a Red- 

 breast under any circumstances. In a cage it is attractive 

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