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GOLDFINCH. 



GOLDIE. GOLDSPIXK. THISTLE-PESTC!!. KING HAKRY. 

 BED-CAP. PKOUD-TAIL. 



Carduelis ehgans, MACGHLLIVRAY. 



Fringilla carduelis, LINNAEUS. LATHAM. 



Carduelis A. bird that feerls on thistles CarduusA. thistle. 



Elegans Elegant. 



THIS lovely bird is one of the most beautifully-plumaged 

 of our native species; its form at the same time is neat and 

 graceful, and its gay exterior is accompanied by gentleness of 

 nature, docility of habit, and sweetness of song. It need 

 therefore hardly be added that it is a deserved favourite, 

 and one only regrets to see it ever otherwise than in the 

 cheerful enjoyment of its natural liberty. Individuals have 

 been known to live ten years in captivity, continuing in song 

 the greater part of each year. Willughby mentions one which 

 lived in confinement for twenty- three years. 



In Europe it occurs from Siberia and Sweden to Greece, 

 France, Spain, Crete, and Italy; in Asia also, in Asia Minor. 



In this country it is found in sufficient plenty throughout 

 England and Wales, as also in the south of Scotland, but is 

 certainly not so numerous as formerly. Whomever else 'Free 

 trade' may be beneficial to, it is not so to the Goldfinch; 

 for 'Agricultural improvement,' necessitated thereby, cuts off 

 with the tops of the thistles, so ready otherwise to run to 

 seed, the harvest which the bird would fain reap in the 

 autumn and the winter. Those tracts, therefore, which still 

 remain in their original and uncultivated state, and furnish 

 accordingly the greater quantity of wild seed-bearing plants, 

 are their most natural resort the uncultivated common, the 



