FRINGILLINE. 173 
THE GOLDFINCH. 
CARDUELIS ELEGANS, Stephens. 
Owing to the arts of the bird-catcher, as well as to improve- 
ments in cultivation which have done away with many of the tracts 
formerly covered with thistles and other weeds, the Goldfinch has 
undoubtedly decreased in numbers during the last half century ; 
nevertheless, the Wild Birds’ Preservation Act, and perhaps agricul- 
tural depression, have somewhat operated in its favour during the 
past twelve years. Though local, and principally to be found 
during the breeding-season in the neighbourhood of gardens and 
orchards, it still nests in every county in England—not except- 
ing Northumberland, where it has bred at Greenhead; while 
it is tolerably common along the Eden valley in Cumberland, 
although in the northern and western counties a comparatively rare 
bird. Beyond the Border it has almost disappeared from the 
Lothians, owing to the influence of high farming; but I am 
informed by Mr. R. Service that, after a marked diminution, it is 
again on the increase in the Solway district. It is now very 
scarce beyond the Great Glen; but on one occasion it has 
nested in the south of Skye, while as a straggler it has occurred 
in Mull and Eigg (Macpherson), as well as in the Orkneys. 
In Ireland it is widely distributed. A large proportion of 
the Goldfinches which inhabit England during the summer, as 
