GOLDFINCH. 543 
lesser wing-coverts are brown, and the other colours gene- 
rally are less brilliant. 
In young birds of the year, which for distinction’s sake 
are called by the bird-catchers and bird-dealers, Branchers, 
the whole of the head, neck, back, and sides of the chest, 
are nearly uniform greyish brown; the other parts resem- 
ble in colour those of the female. “The black begins to 
appear on the head of the young Goldfinches about the 
middle of September, and the red at the end of that month. 
On one which was kept in confinement, the black colour 
first showed itself on the Ist of October, and was perfect on 
the first of November; the face was covered with a dull 
orange, much mixed with black ; it is some time before the 
head assumes its perfect covering.” * 
* Field Naturalist’s Magazine. 
