152 PASSERES. FRINGILLAD^E. 



as slender, but of very regularly conic form. It 

 is rather lengthened, compressed, and drawn to a 

 sharp point, the edges slightly curved ; the nos- 

 trils are placed on each side of the base, co- 

 vered by small feathers. The wings are long 

 and pointed ; the first, second, and third quills 

 nearly equal, and longest. The tail is of mo- 

 derate length, and forked. The legs and feet are 

 somewhat short ; the lateral toes equal ; the claws 

 curved, slender, and acute. 



With the exception of the Canary, there is 

 no cage-bird which is so universal a favourite as 

 the pretty common Goldfinch (Carduelis elegans, 

 STEPH.), and none more deservedly so. The clean- 

 ness and smoothness of its chastely-coloured body- 

 plumage, its crimson head, admirably set off with 

 white and velvet-black, its tail and wings of black, 

 tipped with white, and the broad band of rich 

 golden yellow, which crosses the latter, render it 

 one of the most beautiful of British birds. It is 

 characterized, moreover, by an extreme docility. 

 It may be readily taught to draw its own food 

 and water from reservoirs, by means of a little 

 bucket attached to a cord ; and actions much more 

 wonderful than this, individuals have been trained 

 to perform. Exhibitions are by no means rare, 

 in the metropolis, of Finches of this and other 

 species, brought to perform many amusing tricks, 

 and to go through complicated and difficult ma- 

 noeuvres with precision at the word of command, 

 and even to stand discharges of gunpowder with- 

 out manifesting any signs of fear. The Sieur 

 Roman, who some years ago exhibited Gold- 

 finches, Linnets, and Canaries in this country, 

 had brought them to a surprising pitch of obe- 



