CARDUELIS ELEOANS. 99 



abundant bird in the west of Andalucia. Always plentiful in 

 every direction, they appear in countless flocks when the seed 

 of the various thistles becomes ripe ; and Spain is the country 

 par excellence both of thistles and donkeys. The former, in 

 some of the vegas and plains, grow in almost impenetrable 

 thickets, in places covering acres of ground ; for when the land 

 is left fallow for a season, all weeds are allowed to run riot, 

 and they do so with a vengeance. Some of the thistles (and 

 there are many different kinds) are very handsome a large, 

 yellow, carline species being perhaps the most attractive to the 

 eye. The stalks, heads, and leaves of a species of Cynara, very 

 like the garden artichoke, are a staple vegetable (cardo] with the 

 Spaniards. The dried stalks of another thistle are much used 

 as tinder in the rural districts, and known as yesca de cardo, 

 which takes light well from the sparks made by a flint and 

 steel, most of the peasants using no other method of lighting 

 their papelitos. 



To return to the Goldfinches, at the time of their thistle- 

 harvest they are caught in vast quantities in clap-nets ; and it 

 is not unusual to see a man with bunches of several hundreds, 

 which are sold at a ridiculously low price. Though perhaps 

 rather dry, they are not to be despised as morsels ; but one 

 feels as if committing a sin when devouring such a charming 

 and useful little bird. 



The Goldfinch in Andalucia breeds about the beginning of 

 May, and occasionally nests at Gibraltar in the Alameda and 

 various gardens at the South. 



Bill nearly conical and sharp-pointed. 



Adult. General colour above ruddy brown. Forehead, upper throat, 

 and cheeks crimson ; hinder crown and sides of neck black ; outer web 

 of basal half of primaries, except the first, and the larger wing-coverts, 

 brilliant yellow. 



Young. Mottled, no red or black on head, that part being greyish brown. 

 Length 5 inches. 



H2 



