Englifh Singing-Birds. i^ 



tainly the moft Beautiful and Fineft. feathered 

 of all Cage Birds : A Ring of curious Scar- 

 let-coloured Feathers encompaffes the Fore- 

 part of his Head, or Bafis of the Bill; and 

 from the Eyes to the Bill on each Side, is 

 drawn a black Line ; the Jaws are White, 

 the Top of the Head Black, from which a- 

 broad black Line is produced on both Sides, 

 almoft to the Neck ; the hinder Part of the 

 Head is White ; the Neck and Fore-part of 

 the Back are of a reddilh Afti-colour; the 

 Rump, Breaft, and Sides of the fame, but a 

 little Paler ; the Belly whicifh ; the W-ings 

 and Tail Black, only the Tips of the princi- 

 pal Feathers in both are White ; befides, the 

 Wings are adorned with a moft beautiful 

 Tranfverfe Stroak of Yellow or Gold-colour. 

 I ftiould not ha ire been fo Particular in de- 

 fcribing the Colours of this Bird, but I think 

 the great Variety that Nature has painted 

 it with, wherein it excels all fmall Birds, 

 at leaft what are found in thefe Parts of the 

 World, make it deferring of it ; yet by Rea- 

 fon of Age, Sex, or other Accidents, the 

 Goldfinch fometimes varies from thefe Colours. 

 They are of a mild and gentle Nature^ as 

 may even thence appear, that prelently after 

 they are caught,without ufing anyArt or Care, 

 they will fall to their Meat and Drink ; nor 

 arp they b affrighted at thePrefence of a Man 

 as moft other Birds are wont to be, nor very 



D 2 much 



