76 



GOLDFINCH. 



FRINGULLA CARDUELTS, 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 a very 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 RUFA, Selby. 



The Godwit, which is generally distributed, 

 differs very little from the Curlew in its habits. 



