30 The Food of Some British Wild Birds. 



Conclusion. 



The greenfinch is a very serious enemy of freshly sown and 

 germinating seed, and also helps in distributing the seeds of various 

 weeds. In many parts of the country it is far too numerous, and 

 should be destroyed. 



GOLDFINCH. 



Carduelis degans, Stephens. 



I have failed to find any reference to this bird so far as post- 

 mortem records are concerned. Neither Newstead (9:2) nor Flor- 

 ence (47) make mention of it. 



Archibald (4) states that its food "consists of the seeds of 

 various weeds, including the thistle, hardhead or horseknop, 

 dandelion, ragwort, groundsel, teasel, burdock, chickweed, and 

 plantain. Like tihe chaffinch, it picks out the small seeds from fir 

 cones. It also attacks the twigs of lime and willow, stripping off 

 the outer bark for the sake of the inner tissue. Caterpillars, 

 beetles^ and other insects are destroyed by it in summer, and it is 

 probable that the young are partly fed on aphides." 



Owing to that pernicious pest, the bird-catcher, who seems 

 immune from the Law, this bird is by no means so common in the 

 Midland counties as formerly. 



Post-mortem Records. 



Fifty-four specimens have been examined. 



