GOLDFINCH. 87 



FRINGILLA CARDUELIS. 

 GOLDFINCH. 



(PLATE 12.) 



Carduelis carduelis, Briss. Orn. iii. p. 53 (1760) ; et auctorum pltuimorum 

 (Gmelin), (Latham), (Pennant), (Montag^^), (Bewick), (Temminck), (Gray), 

 (Naumann), (Danford $ Ifarvie-Brown), (Finsch), &c. 



Fringilla carduelis, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 318 (1766). 



Emberiza carduelis (Briss.), Scop. Ann. I. Hist. Nat. p. 144 (1769). 



Acanthis carduelis (Briss.), Bechst. Naturg. Deutschl. p. 199 (1807). 



Spinus carduelis (Briss.), Koch, Syst. baier. Zool. i. p. 233 (1816). 



Passer carduelis (Briss.), Pall. Zooyr. Rosso-Asiat. ii. p. 15 (1826). 



Carduelis elegans, Steph. Shaw's Gen. Zool. xiv. p. 30 (1826). 



Carduelis aurata, Eyton, Cat. Brit. B. p. 20 (1836). 



The Goldfinch is locally distributed throughout England, breeding in 

 suitable districts in probably every county, with the exception of 

 Northumberland, where Mr. Hancock states that it must only be con- 

 sidered an accidental visitor. It is also not uncommon in the Channel 

 Islands, and, according to Mr. Cecil Smith, breeds in all of them. In 

 Scotland its distribution is more local than in England, but it is neverthe- 

 less found in most if not all of the counties ; but it does not appear ever 

 to visit the Orkneys and Shetland. In Mr. Gray's opinion this charming 

 little bird is decreasing in numbers in Scotland ; and this is also said to 

 be the case in many parts of England. In Ireland it is decidedly local, 

 and though found in most parts of the country, its distribution is confined 

 to certain favoured districts. 



The Goldfinch breeds throughout Europe, in Norway as far north as 

 lat. 65, but in the Ural Mountains only as far north as lat. 60. North of 

 St. Petersburg it is extremely rare, and its alleged occurrence at Archangel 

 appears to be supported by insufficient evidence. In the extreme north of 

 its range it is a partial migrant. It is a resident in the Canary Islands, 

 Madeira, and North-west Africa, but to Egypt it is only a winter visitor. 

 It has been found in Palestine, and is a resident in Asia Minor and Persia. 

 In South Siberia it has been found from Omsk to Krasnoyarsk, and as far 

 south as the Altai Mountains. It is only a winter visitor to Turkestan. 

 Examples obtained east of the Ural Mountains are large and nearly white on 

 the rump and flanks, and have been described as specifically distinct under the 

 name of F. major. There can, however, be scarcely any doubt that these two 

 forms interbreed, as at Krasnoyarsk F. major is found interbreeding with 

 a more distant ally, F. caniceps, which differs in having no black on the 

 crown and nape, and in having much more white on the wing. This 

 subspecies ranges southwards to the Altai Mountains and westwards to 



