CHAPTER VI. 



THE BIRDS (Continued). 



THE GOLDFINCH. 



AMONGST the family of the Finches which we meet by the 

 river-side, none can compare both in beauty and in song 

 to the GOLDFINCH (Carduelis elegans) family, Fringellidce. 

 It is one of our most beautifully plumaged birds, its form 

 and movements being extremely graceful, rendering it 

 worthy of its specific name elegans. 



This bird has many provincial designations, such as 

 Goldspink, Thistle-Finch, Chalandire, Draw-Water, King 

 Harry, Red- Cap, Proud Tailor, Fool's Coat, Sheriffs Man, 

 Sweet- William ; its Gaelic name is Las-aer-Chrille (Flame 

 of the Wood), and from its sweet song and beautiful 

 plumage is much sought after by the bird-catchers. Before 

 the passing of the Wild Birds Act, as many as 1 140 

 dozen, all cock-birds, have been caught in one season 

 near Worthing. As a cage-bird it becomes very tame, 

 and will learn many tricks : 



" Live with me, love me, pretty goldfinch, do, 

 Ay, pretty maid, and be a slave to you ; 

 Wear chains, fire squibs, draw water." 



If 3-ou meet with one put your binocular upon him. 

 Mark his scarlet forehead and throat, his satin-black crown 

 and nape, with his broad white collar, his chestnut back, 

 and black wings with broad yellow bars and white tips, 

 his hazel eye, black tail with white outer feathers. It 

 is a restless bird, flitting from thistle to thistle, uttering 



this call-note, Twit-it, twit-it, now clinging to the stem, 



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