GOLDFINCH. 



PASSERES. 



117 



FUISUILL1DM. 



Carduelis elegans, Stephens*. 



THE GOLDFINCH. 



Carduelis elegans. 



Carduelts, Brissonf. — Dill hard, nearly conical but slightly compressed, tin- 

 point slender and sharp. Nostrils basal, lateral, round, and hidden by project- 

 ing and recurved plumes. Gape slightly curved. Wings rather long and pointed : 

 the first primary finely attenuated and so small as to seem wanting ; the second, third 

 and fourth nearly equal, but the second the longest. Tail more or less moderate, 

 and forked. Tarsus short and rather stout, scutellate in front, covered at the 

 side by a single plate. Claws moderate. 



The genus Carduelis, founded by Brisson to receive the 

 Goldfinch and some other birds, has been pretty generally 

 adopted by naturalists, though many have still farther sub- 

 divided it. 



Gay plumage, lively habits, an agreeable form and song, 

 with an endearing disposition, arc such strong recommenda- 

 tions, that the Goldfinch has been, and will probably long 

 be, one of the most favourite cage-birds. So well does this 

 species bear confinement that it has been known to live ten 

 years in captivity, continuing in song the greater part of each 



* Gen. Zool. xiv. p. 30 (1826). t Orn. iii. p. 50 (1760). 



