Goldfinch. 201 



a native of the county. In France it is simply Le Gros-bec : 

 but in Germany, Kirsch Kernbeisser, ' Cherry-stone Biter / in 

 Sweden, Sten-Kndck, ' Stone-breaker ;' and in Spain, Casca-nueces,. 

 1 Nut-breaker.' 



Its general colour is reddish-brown, with black throat, and black 

 and white wings and tail; the largest wing-feathers have a 

 peculiar formation, and present the appearance of having been 

 clipped square at the ends with a pair of scissors ; they are glossy 

 black, with a white oblong spot on the inner webs, singularly 

 truncated at their points, or (as Yarrell says) ' formed like an 

 antique battle or billhook.' The beak in the living bird is of a 

 delicate rose-tint, which, however, quickly fades after death to a 

 dull yellow. 



84. GOLDFINCH (Carduelis elegans). 



This is one of the few birds which everybody knows, and 

 everybody appreciates : its bright gay plumage of brilliant colours, 

 its sprightly form, active habits, and sweetness of song rendering 

 it a great favourite : its scientific name well describes it, Carduelis, 

 from carduus, ' a thistle/ signifying the ' Thistle Finch/ and 

 surely a more elegant handsome bird does not exist. But a bird 

 so brilliantly clad and so much sought after was sure to receive 

 many provincial names at the hands of the birdcatchers, some 

 of which have been bestowed upon it in admiration, as ' Red- 

 cap' and ' King Harry ;' but others in derision, as ' Proud Tailor' 

 and ' Fool's Coat ;' young birds are sometimes designated ' Gray- 

 pates ' and ' Branchers/* The names by which it is known to 

 Continental naturalists are derived partly from the generic Car- 

 duelis, as in France Le Chardonneret, and in Germany Distel- 

 zeisig, both meaning ' Thistle Finch ; ' partly from the specific 

 name elegans, as in Spain Color in (' Bright-coloured'), and in 

 Portugal Milheira Galante (' Beauteous Linnet'). In Sweden it 

 is Steglits, and in Italy Calderello. 



In my early days it was quite common throughout the county, 

 though never so abundant as to beget too great familiarity, which, 

 Fourth edition of Yarrell's 'British Birds/ vol. ii., pp. 118-124. 



