252 BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



sional bird-catcher is largely responsible for the great 

 decrease in the numbers of native wild birds of this 

 species. But the increase of agricultural land has prob- 

 ably been a factor also. A slight recovery has been 

 noted in many pai'ts since the introduction of legal pro- 

 tection. 



Although always tending to be local, the Goldfinch 

 may be said to be generally distributed over most of 

 England, Wales, and Ireland. In Scotland it is un- 

 common, even in the south and centre, and rare or 

 unknown in the north. As a visitor the Goldfinch 

 occurs as an autumn immigrant on the east coast. At 

 the same season there is an emigration, probably of both 

 continental and native - bred birds, from the south. 

 Reverse movements take place in spring ; October and 

 April are the chief seasons. 



The nest may be in a tree or bush, usually at no 

 gi'eat height. It is very small, veiy neat, and veiy 

 skilfully made, the shape being a perfectly round and 

 fairly deep cup. The materials are all soft — fine moss 

 and wool for the structure, hair and feathei'S for the 

 lining. Four or five eggs, with purplish -brown markings 

 on a bluish-white ground, are laid late in May. Two 

 broods are reared in a season. As with most Finches, 

 the nestlings are at first fed on insects, but otherwise 

 the Goldfinch lives chiefly on seeds ; not grain, however, 

 but the smaller seeds of thistles and other weeds. 



The adult female is only slightly duller and paler in 

 plumage than her mate, but the immature birds are 

 very much less bright. 



