PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES 69 



brownish on the head and mantle, and is generally duller in coloration. (PL 17.) 

 [w. P. P.] 



2-3. Distribution and Migration. Its breeding range in Europe is con- 

 fined to Scandinavia north of about 60 (except in the extreme north), and North 

 Russia from the Kola Peninsula south to St. Petersburg and lat. 62 in the 

 Urals. It visits nearly every part of Europe on migration, although rare in the 

 extreme south. It is of accidental occurrence in the British Isles in summer, 

 but as a winter visitor, chiefly from October to March, it is found abundantly in 

 the region between the Forth and the Humber, and also in fair numbers both to 

 the north and to the south of this area ; but on the western side and in Ireland 

 it is rarer, although occasionally appearing in large numbers. Most of the birds 

 probably arrive on the east coast between the Forth and the Humber, but a 

 certain number pass through Shetland and the north-eastern districts of Scotland. 

 Its relative abundance is proportional to the severity of the season. It arrives in 

 flocks. [F. c. R. J. A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Is not a British breeding species. See the previous 

 note. 



5. Food. Chiefly beech-mast, various seeds, insects. 



6. Song Period. Only sings in the breeding season (Collett). 



GOLDFINCH {Carduelis carduelis (Linnasus); C. elegans, Stephens. Goldie, 

 gold-spink, red-cap, red-linnet, thistle-finch, captain, speckled-dick, proud- 

 tailor, Sweet- William, Peckel-Dick, Jack-Nicker, King Harry. The young 

 are known as greypates or branchers. French, chardonneret ; German, 

 Distdzeisig, or, from its call-note, Stieglitz ; Italian, cardettino]. 



1. Description. Easily identified by the crimson, white, and black of the head, 

 and the yellow bar on the wing. Length 5 in. [126*5 mm.]. (PI. 15.) The hen 

 (upper figure in PL 15) resembles the cock, but there is less red on the face, and the 

 black of the wings is duller, with greyish brown on the minor coverts. The young 

 may be distinguished by the absence of the red, white, and black of the head and 

 the striated back and breast. Abnormal varieties of the goldfinch, with a white 

 throat, are called " cheverels." [w. p. p.] 



2. Distribution. This species is divided into many slightly differing local 

 races. The British form, C. carduelis britannica (Hartert), is practically confined to 

 England, Wales, and Ireland, while the common continental race inhabits the rest 

 of the West Palaearctic Region, with the exception of Spain, Portugal, and North- 



