THE GOLDFINCH. 



THE GOLDFINCH. 



This exceedingly 

 pretty bird measures 

 about five inches in 

 length. The top of 

 its head, nape, and 

 the feathers from the 

 base of the bill to 

 the eye are black ; 

 forehead and throat 

 rich scarlet ; cheeks 

 and under parts 

 white, tinged on the 

 breast and sides with 

 pale, tawny-brown. Back pale tawny- 

 brown, wing-coverts and quills black, the 

 latter barred across with yellow and 

 tipped with white. Tail quills black 

 marked with white, and buff j^-white near 

 their tips. 



Seventy years ago this species was 

 extremely abundant, and as recently 

 as 1873 a boy caught close upon 

 five hundred during a single morning 

 near to Brighton ; but it is now, alas ! 



M 177 



