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GOLDFINCH. 
FRINGILLA CARDUELIs, Lin. 
This elegantly formed and beautifully coloured 
bird is generally distributed in Britain, except in 
the mountainous districts. It is found in all the 
temperate and northern parts of Europe, and also 
as far to the south as the islands of the Archi- 
pelago. In autumn it feeds chiefly on the seeds of 
the thistle, dandelion, &c.; and in winter, on 
seeds of various kinds, for which it searches the 
fields. They do not assemble in large flocks, 
rarely more than twenty being seen together, but 
they are sometimes found associating with the 
Linnets. The flight of the Goldfinch is rapid, all 
its actions lively, its song sweet and varied. It 
usually nestles on trees, in gardens or plantations, 
forming avery neat nest of moss, lichen, grass, and 
other materials, warmly lined with wool, hair, and 
the seed down of the willow or thistle. The Gold- 
finch usually lays four or five eggs of a bluish 
white, scantily marked with orange brown spots 
towards the large end. 
GODWIT, BAR-TAILED. 
Limosa rua, Selby. 
The Godwit, which is generally distributed, 
differs very little from the Curlew in its habits. 
