FINCHES. 



335 



THE GOLDFINCH. 



The goldfinch (Garduelia elega/na) occupies an intermediate 

 position between the true finches and the siskins, to the latter of 

 which it is so closely allied that by many it is included in the same genus. To 

 point out its distinctive generic characters is unnecessary ; while, .is the bird is so 

 well known, its description may likewise be omitted. The goldfinch is locally 

 distributed all over England, and 

 its breeding- range extends in 

 Norway as far north as latitude, 

 65°, and in the Urals to 60° It 

 is a partial migrant in the ex- 

 treme north of its range ; it is a 

 resident in Madeira, the Canaries, 

 North-West Africa, Syria, Asia 

 Minor, and Persia, but it only 

 visits Egypt anil Turkestan in 

 winter. The nest, although some- 

 what smaller, is very like that of 

 the chaffinch. Mr. Seebohm writes 

 that "it is often made of moss, 

 lichens, vegetable-down, tine roots, 

 and grass-stems, and lined plenti- 

 fully with feathers and down and a few long hairs. Nests taken in Greece and 

 Asia Minor were almost entirely made of stems of a plant with round Hat seed- 

 cases attached, strengthened by rootlets, and lined with vegetable down. . . . The 

 eggs are four or five in number, and are laid by the middle of May. They art; 

 greenish white in ground-colour, spotted and streaked with purplish In-own, and 

 with underlying markings of violet-grey." \m Eastern Asia the genus is repre- 

 sented by the Eastern goldfinch (''. orientalis). 



This group comprehends a number of small finches, characterised 

 by the possession of a long and acute hill, long wings, ami a short, 

 deeply-forked tail; green and yellow predominating in their plumage. All are 

 highly gregarious in habits. They belong to both the Old and New Worlds, 

 having representatives in Abyssinia, the Himalaya, Siberia, the United States, 

 and especially Smith America, where several species are found in Chili, Bolivia, 

 Ecuador, and other parts of that continent. 



One of the most charming birds of the United States is the 

 yellow-bird or American siskin {Chrysomitris tristis), which is also 

 common in many parts of Canada. It is a lively, graceful species, full of vivacity, 

 and leads a social life, roving about in small communities. Even in the breeding- 

 season these birds are partial to the company of their fellows, and fly in flocks 

 between their nest and their favourite feeding-grounds, where they consume 

 the seeds of various wild plants. The nest is small and compact, built of soft, 

 downy substances. The eggs are white, with a rosy blush when fresh. After the 

 breeding-season, the family parties unite permanently, and rove over the prairies 

 in search of weedy places where they can find subsistence. The adult male in 

 summer is bright golden yellow above and below : the crown and wings being 

 vol. in. — 25 



The Siskins. 



American Siskin. 



