282 
5k. 
Var. A. 
DescriPTIONn. 
ms Ts Nay Gy Ee 
It makes a curious and well-conftructed neft, of fine mo/s, iver- 
worts, thiftle-down, &c. lining it firft with wool and hair, and then 
with the down or goflin of the Sa/low. The eggs are five in 
number; white, marked with deep purple fpots at the larger 
end. It has two broods in a year. Often builds in orchards, in 
the fruit-trees. 
The food of the Goldfinch confifts of feeds of feveral kinds, 
but is fuppofed to prefer thofe of the [hie ; and about the places 
where they grow are to be met with frequently.» In winter they 
affemble in pretty large flocks. Are kept often in cages, and 
will feed freely on Hemp-feed *. Said to be a long-lived bird, 
living above twenty years +. 
This fpecies is plenty throughout Europe; and met with 
both in Africa ft and Afa ||, but lefs common. 
Le Chardonneret 4 téte blanche, Brif. ora. ili. p. 57.—Baf. oif. iv. p. 2020 
Ne 2.—Will. orm p. 257. Vare 2. 
HIS is like the common one, except the fore part of the 
head, which is red, and about the eyes white. 
® But this is faid to make them grow black. I faw this once verified ; in 
which inftance the bird loft almoft the yellow as well as the red colour, only. the 
mere traces of them remaining, 
+ Gener. 
t Dr. Forffer met with it in Madeira. See Voy. p. 26. 
|| At Aleppo, Ruf Alep. p. 70.—I have alfo feen it more than once in 
Chinefe drawings, though this circumftance will not perhaps prove it to be other- 
wife than, a caged. bird. 
he 
