ADDENDA 189 
is variegated, black, white and buff. In the 
field they resemble chaffinches, but the mark- 
ings are different.t. They chirp and twitter 
much, and the combined efforts of a flock 
make quite a noise. Kept in an aviary they 
are often heard to utter a sort of screech, 
by night as well as by day. 
The Goldfinch (length 5 inches) may be some- 
times seen wild near London. It is found 
in numbers mostly where weeds (especially 
thistles, groundsel, dandelion, etc.) are abund- 
ant, as it feeds chiefly on the seeds of various 
wild plants. Every one must know this, per- 
haps the most handsome of British birds, by 
sight, for they are often seen in cages. Though 
very elegant in form and of lovely plumage, 
they have no song proper, only sweet twitter- 
ings and call notes. The sharp little beak 
stands out from blood-red and white cheeks, 
which are followed backwards by _ black 
edged with brown. The wings are black and 
bright yellow, with white marks on the black, 
under parts white, back brown, tail black 
' Wings chequered, flight dipping, and show white 
above the tail, 
