S6o 



PERCHING BIRDS 



spring is well advanced. Although, when on the ground or on a 

 bough, it may easily be mistaken for a chaffinch, the moment it flies 

 the white patch at the root of the tail reveals its distinctness from 

 that bird. In the spring-plumage of the cock the head, neck, and 

 back are black with steely blue reflections, the loins white, the lesser 

 wing-coverts orange, the greater coverts black with buffish-white tips, 



forming a wing-bar, most 

 of the breast and flanks 

 reddish fawn, with black 

 spots on the latter, and the 

 lower part of the breast and 

 abdomen white. After the 

 autumnal moult the black 

 areas are rendered less in- 

 tense by the usual light- 

 coloured edges of the 

 feathers. In the hens and 

 x'oung birds the black- 

 patches are replaced b\- dull 

 brown, and the wings and 

 under-parts are more dingy 

 than in adult cocks. 



From Europe, where 

 the breeding-range in Scan- 

 dinavia extends as far north 

 as Christiania, or thereabouts, tiie brambling is found across northern 

 Asia to Japan, while in winter it visits the south of Europe, the north 

 of Africa, and the north-west IIiniala)-a. During the winter it may be 

 met with throughout the British Islands, including, although only occa- 

 sionally, the Outer Hebrides. l^cech-woods are its favourite haunts. 



BKAMBLING. 



Goldfinch Owing to incessant pursuit on the part of bird- 



f^Carduelis catchers, the goldfinch, a few years ago, was more 



eleffans) °* ^^^"'' completeh' exterminated from man\- districts 



where it was once common. Thanks, however, to 



efficient bird-protection, it is now fast re-establishing itself in its former 



haunts. Goldfinches, of which there are two species, are closelx* allied 



to the chaffinch and brambling, from which they are distinguished b\' 



their more slight build, the longer and more pointed beak, and the 



style of colouring. 



At all ages the goldfinch (now often known as Cardiiclis carditelis) 



