THE GOLDFINCH 



(Cardtielis elegans) 



PROPERLY speaking, the name "goldfinch" ought to be the designation of 

 the canary, but it was doubtless given to the well-known British bird long 



before canaries were thought or heard of in England, and the former has, 

 therefore, an indefeasible title. And, after all, if the canary be put aside, the 

 designation is really very suitable to the goldfinch, referring as it does to the 

 bright golden wing-bar which distinguishes both sexes from all other British 

 birds. Taking into consideration the fact that both sexes share the brilliant 

 plumage characteristic of the species, the goldfinch can lay claim to be the most 

 brightly coloured perching-bird indigenous to the British Isles and north-western 

 Europe generally. 



To describe the colouring of such a well-known bird would be altogether 

 superfluous on the present occasion, more especially as it is so excellently shown in 

 the Plate. It may be remarked, however, that there is some amount of individual 

 variation in this respect, and that the development of the red area on the head and 

 of the white spots on all the tail-feathers is a feature of the adults alone ; and it 

 may be added that in regard to colouring females differ from the males chiefly by 

 the smaller extent of the red area, which may contain black spots. 



To one variation bird-fanciers have given the special name of " cheverel " ; 

 this rare sport, when fully developed, being characterised by the wholly white chin, 

 and by the white patch on the cheek extending upwards so as to unite across the 

 back of the head with its fellow of the opposite side. The brown patch on the 

 breast is likewise replaced by white. Every kind of variation between a typical 

 goldfinch and the so-called cheverel may be seen ; and it is thus evident that the 

 latter is merely a partially albinistic phase of the former. 



There is an idea, doubtless unfounded, that the cheverel, or chevil, as it is 

 sometimes called, mates better with the canary, and is likewise a superior songster ; 

 and it is to the latter notion that it owes its name, which is apparently derived 

 from an old English word chefle or chevelen, signifying to talk idly, or chatter. 



The distributional area of the goldfinch extends from the British Isles to 

 western and central Siberia, beyond which it is replaced by the grey-headed gold- 

 finch (Cardttelis caniceps)—* bird with which the large eastern race of the European 

 species will interbreed. Although the goldfinch is only a casual visitor to 

 Scotland, in Scandinavia its breeding-area extends some five degrees farther north 

 than that of its cousin, the brambling. 



Owing to the estimation in which it is held as a cage-bird, the goldfinch 



