162 PAPERS, ETC. 
eggs, of a pale greenish blue, spotted chiefly on the 
large end with dark brown and purple, 93 lines by 6 
lines. 
CARDUELIS. 
51.—Carduelis elegans.— Gold/inch. 
The nest ofthis bird is as remarkable for its neatness and 
elegance as is the little architect itself. Their choice 
of materials too is very amusing. A pair breeding 
in a garden were supplied with wool, with which they 
composed their nest, but on cotton being offered 
them they rejected the wool, and lastly the cotton 
also, on the introduction of fine down, with which 
they ultimately finished the structure. The eggs 
are pale bluish white, with a few spots and streaks of 
purple and brown, 83 lines by 6 lines. 
LINOTA. 
52.- Linota cannabina.— Common Linnet. 
The eggs are similar in colour and size to those of 
the goldfinch, but occasionally varying, and have 
been frequently offered for sale as those of the lesser 
redpole, which bird however does not breed farther 
south than Yorkshire, and is a winter visitor only to 
our western counties. That a pair may now and 
then remain and breed, is possible ; such however 
have never come under my notice. 
PYRRHULA. 
53.—Pyrrhula vulgaris.—.Bullfinch. 
This bird retires during the breeding season to the most 
unfrequented woods in its neighbourhood, which ac- 
counts for the comparative scareity ofits eggs, con- 
sidering the common appearance of this eminent 
devourer of buds, in whose gizzard I have never 
found the remains of a single inseet: the rascal also 
