124 FKIXGILLID/l.. 



The whole length is five inches ; from the carpal joint to 

 the end of the wing, two inches and seven- eighths : the 

 fourth primary one-eighth longer than the fifth, which is con- 

 siderably longer than the sixth. 



In the female, the bill is usually more slender, the red on 

 the head occupies less space, and is frequently speckled with 

 black ; but in colour both sexes are generally much alike. 



In young birds of the year, called by bird-fanciers Grey- 

 pates and (as with those of other species) Branchers, the 

 head, neck, back, and sides of the body are greyish-brown 

 clouded with a darker shade ; the primaries and tertials are 

 tipped with buffy-white, and only the outer tail-feather on 

 each side has a white spot. The black on the head begins 

 to appear about the middle of September, and the red at the 

 end of that month, but it is some time before the head 

 assumes its perfect colouring. 



The Goldfinch is subject to some variation both in size and 

 plumage, and, though of the ordinary aberrations in colour 

 observable in it, as in other birds, there is no need here to 

 speak, a few lines may be bestowed upon one variety long 

 known among bird-fanciers as the " Cheverel*" or " Chevil," 

 and by them regarded not only as a distinct " species " (which 

 of course from a technical point of view is wrong), but also as of 

 great value — according to some, because it is believed to have 

 a sweeter song, while others say because it pairs more freely 

 in captivity with the Canary-bird. What is deemed a true 

 Chevcrel is very rare, and has the chin wholly white, with the 

 white of the sides of the head extending upwards in a well 

 defined line through the black band and across the occiput 



* The bird is said by Pennant to be so called " from the manner in which it 

 concludes its jerle" or song. Mr. Skeat has been so good as to suggest that the 

 name has a common origin with chefle (Ancren Riwle, circa 1200, Kd. Morton, 

 p. 128) otherwise chevelen—nn old English word meaning to "talk idly," to 

 "chatter" — whence would regularly come chevcller, a "chatterer," easily cor- 

 rupted into Cheverel and Chevil — the latter being the form most used nowadays. 

 Mr. Mase, a Brighton bird-fancier, with whom the Editor had the pleasure of 

 becoming acquainted, informed him, however, that the name was derived from 

 "Cheviot Hill" — that being the reputed capital of the supposed "species." It 

 may be remarked that Cheverel, as applied to the Goldfinch, has nothing to do 

 with rhereril ( = kid) often used by Shakespear. 



