40 THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 



Family FRINGILLID^. 



Sub-Family FRINGILLIN^. 



Genus CARDUELIS. 



C. Elegans. Goldfinch. 



The Goldfinch is a local resident, having generally 

 decreased of late years, though still numerous in the 

 south of the county and in the Eden valley. A few 

 pairs breed s23oradically in the north of the county, 

 and large flights are occasionally observed in autumn, 

 even upon the lower fells, where thistles flourish. 

 Several observers assure us that small parties follow 

 the trending of the Solway at this season, flying 

 from west to east or north-east, against a north or 

 north-east wind. We have seen the nestlings fledged 

 in the middle of June, and have also a note of a 

 brood of nestlings taken in the nest on September 

 20th. The last nest we found was placed in the 

 fork of a walnut tree at Interlaken, and contained 

 unfledged young upon August 19th. A pair nested 

 in a Carlisle garden during the present summer. 

 E. W. Parker, Esq., sends us an interesting account 

 of the abundance of the Goldfinch in the Eden 

 valley : — " Goldfinches are very plentiful in this 

 district, and after the nesting, in the months of 

 August, September, and October, may be seen in 

 flocks varying from twenty to a hundred birds, 

 roving in search of thistles and ''horse knops" 

 [Centaurea nigra). Every year I have seen as many 

 as thirty at a time in my kitchen garden in winter. 

 They have built there, to my knowledge, for the 



