ORDER PASSE RES. 26 1 



time, the bird should also be made to swallow a few drops of 

 it, to which a little melted sugar is added. This remedy is 

 very efficacious ; the bird resumes new strength, and in a few 

 hours enjoys as good health as he had before. It is recom- 

 mended never to leave the goldfinches without a piece of 

 plaster in their cage, suspended so that they may pick at it 

 with facility. When these birds are properly taken care of, 

 and attentively kept clean, they are not very subject to 

 disease, and will live sixteen or eighteen years, and sometimes 

 longer. 



The species of the goldfinch is extended throughout the 

 whole of Europe nearly, and through some parts of Asia and 

 Africa. It is found in Greece, where it bears the name of 

 karedreno ; though no migrating bird, properly speaking, it 

 does not remain all the year round on all the islands of the 

 Archipelago. It prefers the largest, and also the lands of 

 the neighbouring continent, because it doubtless finds there 

 more safe and agreeable retreats. 



Few species present more varieties than this ; besides those 

 which proceed from forced alliances, there are others attri- 

 butable to aliment, to age, and to domestication. 



There is one which is white where the others are red, 

 namely, on the forehead and eyebrows, which colour also 

 prevails on the top of the head, instead of black. On some 

 the red is shaded with yellow, and the black appears through 

 these colours. A goldfinch, with the head striped with red 

 and yellow, has been found in America. One witli the cap 

 altogether black has but a few red spots on the forehead ; the 

 back and chest are of a yellowish brown ; the iris yellowish, 

 and the bill and feet flesh-colour. The whitish goldfinch 

 has the tail and wings of an ashen-brown, the upper and 

 under parts of the body whitish, and the yellow of the wings 

 pale. Some varieties are totally white, and others, among 

 which are the handsomest races, have the head red and the 



