GENUS 38. FRINGILLA. FINCH. 



SPECIES 1. F. TRISTIS. 

 YELLOW-BIRD, OR GOLDFINCH. 



[Plate I. Fig. 2.] 



LINN. Syst. \,p. 320. Carduelis flmericana,BRiss. in, p. 64. Le 

 Chardonneret jaune BUFF, iv, p. 112. PL Enl. 202, /. 2. .tfme- 

 rican Goldfinch, Jlrct. Zool n, JVo. 242. EWD. 274 LATH. 

 Syn. in, p. 288, 57. /d. Sup. p. 166. BARTRAM, p. 290. 

 PEALE'S Museum, JVo. 6344. 



THIS bird is four inches and a half in length, and eight inches 

 in extent; of a rich lemon yellow, fading into white towards 

 the rump and vent. The wings and tail are black, the former 

 tipt and edged with white, the interior webs of the latter are 

 also white; the fore part of the head is black; the bill and legs 

 of a reddish cinnamon colour. This is the summer dress of the 

 male; but in the month of September, the yellow gradually 

 changes to a brown olive, and the male and female are then 

 nearly alike. They build a very neat and delicately formed lit- 

 tle nest, which they fasten to the twigs of an apple tree, or to 

 the strong branching stalks of hemp, covering it on the outside 

 with pieces of lichen, which they find on the trees and fences; 

 these they glue together with their saliva, and afterwards line 

 the inside with the softest downy substances they can procure. 

 The female lays five eggs, of a dull white, thickly marked at 

 the greater end ; and they generally raise two broods in a sea- 

 son. The males do not arrive at their perfect plumage until the 

 succeeding spring; wanting, during that time, the black on the 

 head; and the white on the wings being of a cream colour. In 

 the month of April they begin to change their winter dress, 



