GOLDFINCH. INSESSORES. CARDUELIS. 313 



mage, most of which are enumerated by LATHAM, in his In- 

 dex Ornithologicus. It is common in all the temperate and 

 northern parts of Europe, and is found as far to the south- 

 ward as the islands of the Archipelago. Its food consists of Food, 

 the seeds of the several kinds of thistles, the burdock, and 

 dandelion, as well as the oily seeds of many of the cruciform 

 plants. 



Goldfinches do not associate in large flocks ; their societies 

 rarely exceeding twenty in number. 



PLATE 55. Fig. 8. A male bird of the natural size. 



Bill yellowish-white, with the tip blackish-brown. Base General 

 of the bill, space between it and the eyes, occiput and t ion. nP ~ 

 nape of the neck, ink-black. Forehead, temples and 

 throat arterial blood-red. Cheeks, ear-coverts, and 

 lower parts of the neck white. Sides of the breast, back 

 and scapulars deep yellowish-brown. Lower part of the 

 back whitish, intermixed with yellowish-brown. Lesser 

 wing-coverts black. Greater coverts, and basal-half of 

 the quills, brilliant gamboge yellow ; the other half 

 black, with a white spot at the tips. Six middle tail- 

 feathers black, with white- pointed tips ; the rest of them 

 with a large oval white spot occupying the middle of 

 the inner webs. Belly and vent white, tinged with 

 wood-brown. Legs and toes wood-brown. 



Fig. 9. The female. Natural size. Female. 



There is but little difference between her and the male 

 bird. The colours are rather inferior in brilliancy, and 

 the red upon the forehead and throat is frequently mix 

 ed with black specks. 



