NOTES. 291 



The five following exotic species of this family have actually been 

 taken in New England, as ferce natures, but claim no proper place 

 in the list, being undoubtedly imported. They are all frequently 

 brought to this country as cage-birds; but, though some of them 

 may be occasionally set at liberty, none appear to be naturalized, 

 like the House Sparrow and Migratory Quail : 



1. EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH. Carduelis elegans. " Repeatedly taken 



or observed in a wild state, under circumstances that seem to 

 render it probable that the individuals were not escaped cage- 

 birds. Whether or not introduced originally by man's agency, 

 I consider seriously open to question." {Allen.} (Allen, Bull. 

 Essex Tnst., x, 1878, p. 36; Massachusetts. Brewer, Pr. Bost. 

 Soc., xx, 1879, P- 2 7 J Massachusetts. Allen, Bull. Nutt. Club, 

 v, 1880, p. 120; Massachusetts.) 



2. SERIN FINCH. Serinus meridionalis. European. Once observed 



in Massachusetts. (Allen, Am. Nat, iii, 1870, p. 635. Allen, Bull. 

 Essex Inst, x, 1878, p. 36. Allen, Bull. Nutt. Club, v, 1880, p. 

 1 20.) 



3. Critkagra butyracea. African. Once observed in Massachusetts, 



at South Scituate, February, 1879. (Brewer, Pr. Bost. Soc., xx, 



1879, p. 271. Allen, Bull. Nutt. Club, v, 1880, p. 120.) 



4. Amadina riibronigra. African. Once observed in Maine. (Allen, 



Bull. Nutt. Club, v, 1880, p. 120.) 



5. Gubernatrix cristatella. A well-known South American species, 



once taken in Rhode Island. (See Allen, Bull. Nutt. Club, v, 



1880, p. 240.) 



