50 



Eggs. Usually 4 — 5 in number, but occasionally 6 are found. The sbell 



is thin and partly transparent, showing the yolk plainly and looking almost 



white when unblown, but afterwards acquiring a bluish tinge. The markings 



generally consist of a few distinct spots or streaks of reddish brown, 



sometimes almost purplish black, with faint underlying spots or blotches 



of reddish grey. Some eggs are boldly marked, while others have only 



a few fine speckles. As a rule they have a character of their own, but 



some varieties are indistinguishable from those of the Linnet. 



Breeding The eggs of the first brood are generally laid between May 9 and 



Season. June 9, but most eggs are found about May 14 — 26. When a second 



brood is reared (as is frequently the case), eggs are laid towards the end 



of June or later. Fledged young have been found in the nest as late as 



Oct. 2 in the Dove valley. In Ireland Goldfinches have been known to 



breed in April; but May and June are the regular breeding months, and 



July nests are probably second broods. Incubation lasts 14 days. 



Measure- Average of 100 eggs (64 Irish and 36 English) 17.03 X 12.87 mm., 



ments. Max. 18.7 X 13 and 16.3 X 13.6 mm., Min. 15.5 X 12.2 mm. Average 



weight (14 eggs) 79 mg. 8 full eggs average 1.429 g. (Foster). 



Geographical Races. 



a. Continental Goldfinch, C. carduelis carduelis (L.). 



Plate 11, fig. 16—20 (Germany). 



Eggs: Thienemann, Fortpfl., Tab. XXXV, fig. 9, a — c. Baedeker, 

 Tab. 20, fig. 3. Taczanowski, Tab. LXXIII. 



Foreign Names: Bohemia: Stelilik. Denmark: Stillids. Finland: 

 Tikli. France: Chardonneret, Chardonnet Germany: Stieglitz, Distelzeisig, 

 Distelfiiik. Greece: Karderina. Helgoland: Ziehelitsch. Holland: Putter, 

 Bloemputter, Distelvink. Hungary: Tengelicz. Italy: Cardellino, Cardello. 

 'Norway: Stillids. F oland: Szczygiel. Russisn Schtsscheglok. Sweden: Steglits. 



Carduelis elegans Steph. (partim). Dresser, Newton and Saunders, 1. c. 

 (see p. 49). A. carduelis carduelis (L.). Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 67. 



Breeding Range: Europe, excepting N. Scandinavia and N. Russia. 

 Replaced by other forms in the British Isles, S. Spain, Sardinia, Corsica etc. 

 [Also Palestine and Asia Minor.] 

 Con- 'pjjg northern limit of this race in Norway is 64 i^" N. Lat., and in 



tinental ci i txt i t t " 



Europe, bwcdeu to Wermland and Dalarne (61° — 62°). In Finland it occurs in 

 Tavastehus, Kuopio and Messuby, but in the Urals not above 60°, Over 

 the rest of Europe it is generally distributed in suitable country, but is 

 not as a rule very common anywhere, except in the countries bordering 

 on the Mediterranean. In the Balkan peninsula it is common, and breeds 



