INTRODUCED SPECIES 383 



EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis) 

 This pretty European species was introduced at Hoboken 

 in 1878. It appeared in Central Park the next year, and then 

 spread to the upper parts of the City. For a time it gave 

 every appearance of increasing in numbers. For some reason, 

 however, this promise has not been fulfilled. Only a very few 

 stragglers have been reported in the last ten years, and while 

 it is too early to say that the bird is extirpated, its introduc- 

 tion can be declared a hopeless failure. 



Long Island. Single individuals seen in Brooklyn on May 27, 

 1915 and April 27, 1918 (Fleischer). 



CENTRAL PARK. Formerly a common resident, which had 

 completely disappeared in 1907; one bird seen May 9, 1920 

 (L. N. Nichols). 

 New Jersey. 



ENGLEWOOD REGION. I have no record of the arrival of this 

 species, but its maximum numbers were reached about 1910. 

 Last observed in 1915 (Nichols), and now probably extinct. 



CHAFFINCH (Fringilla ccelebs) 



Several pairs of this European species were released in 

 1890 in Central Park. Three individuals remained in 1906, 

 and a single male survived several years longer. Possibly 

 one of these same birds was seen in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, 

 on January 10, 1909 (E. Fleischer). 



The Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) and the Bullfinch 

 (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) have been observed in Central Park. 

 They were unquestionably escaped cage-birds. The 

 European Linnet (Linota cannabina) has been recorded from 

 Scarboro, N. Y., but was in all probability an escape. A 

 Brazilian Cardinal (Paroaria cucullata), seen last spring in 

 Central Park, was also a cage-bird. It seems useless to 

 include such species in a local avifauna. One might as well 

 add the Waxbills or Parrots occasionally reported! When 

 a given species is known to be a common cage-bird at the 

 time the record is made, it is impossible to prove that it is a 

 genuine accidental visitant. 



