262 THE GOLDFINCH. 



the Twite, and by the Scotch, the Heather Lmtie ; the second 

 (the Fringilla Boreales of TEMMINCK) is sometimes known as 

 the Mealy Kedpole. BECHSTEIN, it may be seen, considers the 

 former of these birds identical with the more common species ; 

 but the testimony of our own naturalists is too strong to allow of 

 our easily admitting this. " The Mountain Linnet," says YAR- 

 EELL, " is distinguished from the Common Linnet, and from both 

 the Eedpole Linnets, by the greater length of its tail, which gives 

 this bird a more elongated and slender appearance ;" and in the 

 admirable illustrations to his valuable work on British Birds, we 

 see at once, by comparing the two species, how marked is the 

 difference. MACGILLIVRAY also might be quoted in confirmation 

 of this opinion, as well as JARDINE, SELBY, and others. This 

 bird appears to be not uncommon in Scotland ; especially is this 

 the case in the western isles. In the south of England it is a 

 winter visitant only, and the bird-catchers there say that they 

 can tell immediately if there are any Mountain Linnets among 

 the flocks of small birds, by their particular note, which resembles 

 the word " twite" hence one of their popular names. Equally 

 good authority might be quoted to show that the Mealy Linnet 

 is not, as some ornithologists affirm, a variety only of the Lesser 

 Eedpole. 



111. THE GOLDFINCH. 



Fringilla Carduelis, LIN. Chardonneret, BUF. Der Steiglitz oder 

 Distelfink, BECH. 



Description. This bird attractive from the beauty of its 

 plumage and song, its great docility, and the readiness with 

 which it breeds with other birds is five inches and three quar- 

 ters in length, of which the tail measures two inches. The 

 beak is five lines in length, very sharp, and slightly bent at 

 the point, and compressed at the sides. In colour it is whitish, 

 with a tinge of brown at the tip. The feet are brown, slender, 

 and six fines in height. The front of the head is bright 

 scarlet, and a broad stripe of the same colour encircles the root 

 of the beak. The poll of the head is black, and a similar 

 stripe passes over the back of the head, down each side of the 

 neck. Behind this stripe is a white spot on both sides ; and 

 the cheeks and upper part of the neck are also white. The 

 back and nape of the neck are a beautiful brown ; the rump 

 whitish, with a tinge of brown ; and the larger feathers black 

 The sides of the breast and groin are light brown ; the middle 

 of the breast, the belly, and the vent, are whitish, tinged with 



