GOLDFINCH. 87 
FRINGILLA CARDUELIS. 
GOLDFINCH. 
(Puate 12.) 
Carduelis carduelis, Briss. Orn. iii. p. 53 (1760); et auctorum plurimorum— 
(Gmelin), (Latham), (Pennant), (Montagu), (Bewick), (Temminck), (Gray), 
(Naumann), (Danford § Harvie-Brown), (Finsch), &e. 
Fringilla carduelis, Linn, Syst. Nat. i. p. 318 (1766). 
Emberiza carduelis (Briss.), Scop. Ann. I. Hist. Nat. p. 144 (1769). 
Acanthis carduelis (Briss.), Bechst. Naturg. Deutschl. p. 199 (1807). 
Spinus carduelis (Briss.), Koch, Syst. bater. Zool. i. p. 233 (1816). 
Passer carduelis (Briss.), Pall. Zoogr. Rosso-Asiat. ii. p. 15 (1826). 
Carduelis elegans, Steph. Shaw's Gen. Zool. xiv. p. 80 (1826). 
Carduelis aurata, Eyton, Cat. Brit. B. p. 20 (1836). 
The Goldfinch is locally distributed throughout England, breeding in 
suitable districts in probably every county, with the exception of 
Northumberland, where Mr. Hancock states that it must only be con- 
sidered an accidental visitor. It is also not uncommon in the Channel 
Islands, and, according to Mr. Cecil Smith, breeds in all of them. In 
Scotland its distribution is more local than in England, but it is neverthe- 
less found in most if not all of the counties; but it does not appear ever 
to visit the Orkneys and Shetland. In Mr. Gray’s opinion this charming 
little bird is decreasing in numbers in Scotland; and this is also said to 
be the case in many parts of England. In Ireland it is decidedly local, 
and though found in most parts of the country, its distribution is confined 
to certain favoured districts. 
The Goldfinch breeds throughout Europe, in Norway as far north as 
lat. 65°, but in the Ural Mountains only as far north as lat.60°. North of 
St. Petersburg it is extremely rare, and its alleged occurrence at Archangel 
appears to be supported by insufficient evidence. In the extreme north of 
its range it is a partial migrant. It is a resident in the Canary Islands, 
Madeira, and North-west Africa, but to Egypt it is only a winter visitor. 
It has been found in Palestine, and is a resident in Asia Minor and Persia. 
In South Siberia it has been found from Omsk to Krasnoyarsk, and as far 
south as the Altai Mountains. It is only a winter visitor to Turkestan. 
Examples obtained east of the Ural Mountains are large and nearly white on 
the rump and flanks, and have been described as specifically distinct under the 
name of F. major. There can, however, be scarcely any doubt that these two 
forms interbreed, as at Krasnoyarsk F. major is found interbreeding with 
a more distant ally, F. caniceps, which differs in having no black on the 
crown and nape, and in having much more white on the wing. This 
subspecies ranges southwards to the Altai Mountains and westwards to 
