The Hawfinch 



on the forehead ; nape grey ; lores, chin, and a narrow stripe 

 at the base of the bill black. Under parts brown. Bill 

 deep lead colour in summer, horn coloured with black tips in 

 winter. The female is much duller. The young have the 

 head yellowish ; mantle mottled brown ; under parts white 

 spotted and barred with dull brown. Length 7 in.; 

 wing 4 in. 



THE GOLDFINCH 



Carduelis elegans, Stephens 



A cold autumn day, the clouds hang lowering in the sky ; 

 on one side flows the river, sullen, dark, and swollen by the 

 recent rains, on the other stretch wild and bare meadows 

 whose flat level is broken by clumps of nettles, thistles, and 

 other coarse plants distasteful to cattle. One thing alone 

 breaks the general dreariness — it is a flock of Goldfinches, 

 who, as they hang in strange attitudes on the thistle heads, 

 show the bright yellow of their wings, making it appear as 

 though some plant, forgetful of the season, was about to 

 burst into flower. As we approach to get a closer view, 

 first one and then another will rise and in undulating 

 flight move on to another clump and call his companions to 

 a fresh hunting-ground with his little "ti-whit!" His bright 

 colours and the ease with which he adapts himself to cage 

 life have led to a great diminution in his numbers, in addition 

 to which the higher and more scientific methods of farming 

 have sadly restricted his feeding-grounds. Legislation, how- 

 ever, has stepped in, so that, although still a comparatively 



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