530 
4 
A few are to be found in the winter; and it has been known to breed here.” Lord Lilford found 
it breeding numerously in Corfu; and both Lindermayer and Von der Miihle say that it is one of 
the commonest resident species in Greece, being exceedingly numerous in the winter season. It 
breeds in the northern provinces. Throughout the whole of the rest of Southern Europe it is 
tolerably generally distributed, and common in many places. I frequently saw it in Styria and 
in the countries skirting the Danube; and Von Nordmann speaks of it as being numerous in 
Southern Russia. In Asia Minor it is common, and resident; it breeds in Crete; and Canon 
Tristram met with it in Palestine. In North-east Africa it is said by Von Heuglin to be met 
with in Lower Egypt in small flocks or singly; and Captain Shelley writes (B. of Egypt, p. 162), 
it is “abundant in the Delta in winter; but I am not aware of its having been met with 
south of Cairo. I shot a specimen out of some large flocks that I fell in with near Damietta in 
March.” In North-western Africa it is common, and resident. Loche speaks of it as being 
found in all three provinces of Algeria; Mr. O. Salvin found it common everywhere in the 
Eastern Atlas, and adds that at Djendeli it builds a neat nest composed almost entirely of the 
flowers of the tamarisk; Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., says that it is the commonest bird in many 
parts of the Tell; and Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt-Drake met with it in Tangier and Eastern Morocco. 
Colonel Irby says that, according to Favier, it is “‘exceedingly plentiful near Tangier, and 
resident ; but numbers migrate, arriving from about the month of August, to depart again for 
the north in March.” It is also met with in the Canaries and Madeira, where it is exceedingly 
common; but it has not been found in the Azores. 
To the eastward it is found at least as far as Turkestan, but does not appear to be met with 
further east; and here it meets its ally Carduelis caniceps, Vig. (C. orientalis, Kivers.). My. Blan- 
ford states that it is locally distributed on the Persian plateau, where it is apparently a permanent 
resident. He did not meet with it in Northern Persia; but De Filippi records it from Tabriz, 
and Ménétries from Lankordn. Major St. John met with it at Nanizak, near Bushire, in Feb- 
ruary, and says that it breeds numerously about Shiraz. In Turkestan, according to Severtzoff, © 
it occurs during winter, and may possibly remain to breed in the north-eastern, north-western, 
and south-eastern districts. He adds that both the present species and Carduelis caniceps 
inhabit the same localities in the Thian-shan range. I have examined specimens from Turkestan 
which agree with our bird, and others labelled C. orientalis, also from Turkestan, which agree 
closely with examples of C. caniceps from India. 
The Goldfinch, or Thistlefinch as it is frequently called, frequents during the summer season 
either well-wooded localities or gardens and orchards, and small groves, but always in the vicinity 
of fields; and it is never met with in the dense forests or in conifer-growth, as it affects non- 
evergreen woods and groves. During the breeding-season it is most frequently met with not far 
distant from human habitations; and its nest is often built in gardens and orchards, generally 
at no great altitude; I have usually found it placed on a fruit-tree. In the autumn, when the 
young birds are full-grown, they and their parents collect together in tolerably large flocks and 
wander about the country, at this season frequenting open places, especially where thistles are 
plentiful, on the seeds of which plant they feed with avidity. It is an exceedingly lively, active 
bird, always busy and in motion ; and its sprightly habits, good song, and pretty figure make it a 
very favourite cage-bird, besides which it is very teachable and can easily be taught any thing 
