on the European Goldfinch.



23



increase ill its numbers, and at the present time it is apparently

by no means uncommon in many parts of the country.


A description of so well known a bird would be super¬

fluous. The sexes are alike in colour, but may be distinguished

by the shoulders of the males being a pure and intense black,

while those of the females are rusty. The young birds, known

as ‘ Grey Pates,’ are similar to the adult but duller, and the head

is of a uniform greyish brown.


Varieties are not uncommon, and two of them are so well

known as to be universally recognised. The principal of these

is called the Cheverel: in this case the chin is white instead of

red, the white extending upwards on either side through the

black band and meeting on the occiput: although lam unable

to vouch for the statement, this variety is said to have a sweeter

and better song. Another well known variety is the Pea-throat,

in which the white on the chin, instead of entirely replacing

the red leaves a small patch the size of a pea in the centre.

Intermediate varieties exist, which are known to bird-catchers

as “ Bastard Cheverels.”


Albinism is not very uncommon, but I have just received

a curious melanistic variety in which the whole head is black,

the underparts very dark brown with the exception of a white

patch on the vent, back dark brown, wings normal.


The so-called foreign Goldfinches, in spite of what may

be said to the contrary, do not differ from our own ; but the

large Siberian birds, which are freely imported from Russia, are

undoubtedly a larger and brighter race, and it is this larger race

which meets and interbreeds with the Asiatic Goldfinch (C.

caniceps), on which species Mr. Finn is, I believe preparing an

article for our Magazine.



,THE RED-CAPPED PARROT.


A fine example of the Red-capped Parrot (.Pionopsittacus pileatus )

from Brazil, a very rare species, was shown at the recent Crystal Palace

Bird Show. It obtained a fourth prize, commoner birds being placed

before it.



