274 COMMON GOLDFINCH. 



and having the first three quills nearly equal ; 



tail short, and slightly forked ; tarsi short , 



feet of moderate strength. 

 Types, 1. C. elegans, 2. Americanus. 

 Note. 1. Europe, Alpine Asia; 2. America, 



Africa. Habits arboreal, and to a certain 



extent scansorial. 



THE COMMON GOLDFINCH. 



Carduelis elegans STEPHENS. 



PLATE XVI. 



Fringilla carduelis, Witt. Linn, fyc Carduelis elegans, 



Steph Carduelis Europeus, Swain Goldfinch of 



British authors. 



Though black and yellow, distributed in large 

 and distinct masses, are prevailing colours in all 

 the members of this genus, they have also a 

 family dress varied in addition with crimson and 

 chestnut. This is seen in our native favourite, 

 one of the most beautiful birds in the British list, 

 and which adds to its appearance the acquire- 

 ments of docility, and attachment to its master 

 or mistress. The Goldfinch is a common but 

 not an abundant species, and does not appear in 

 the large flocks in which the Siskin and Linnets 

 assemble ; it is generally distributed in the British 

 Islands, decreasing in numbers towards the north, 



