132 AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. 



myself. They measure a trifle more than five and a half eighths in length, 

 by four and a half eighths in breadth, and are very obtuse at one end and 

 sharp at the other. My friend Dr. Bachman informs me, that "although 

 this bird is not uncommon in the maritime districts of South Carolina during 

 winter, it has not been observed to breed nearer than one hundred miles 

 from Charleston." Dr. T. M. Brewer states, that "it remains through 

 the year at Boston, breeds in large numbers, and is seen during winter in 

 great flocks, in dull plumage, constantly flitting about." 



Abundant in the Middle and Western Districts during summer. Acci- 

 dental in the Southern States during winter. Columbia river and Fur 

 Countries. Abundant. Migratory. 



American Goldfinch, Fringilla tristis, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. i. p. 20. 



Fringilla tristis, Bonap. Syn., p. 111. 



Carduelis Americana (Edwards), American Goldfinch, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. 



Amer., vol. ii. p. 268. 

 Yellow-bird or American Goldfinch, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 507. 

 American Goldfinch, Fringilla tristis, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. i. p. 172; vol. v. p. 510. 



Bill rather slender, second and third quills longest. Male rich lemon- 

 yellow, fading behind into yellowish-white; upper part of head, wings, and 

 tail black; smaller coverts yellow, quills margined, and secondary coverts 

 tipped with yellowish-white; inner webs of tail-feathers in their terminal 

 half white. Female brownish-olive above, without black on the head; fore 

 neck and breast greyish-yellow, the rest of the lower parts greyish-white. 

 Young like the female, as is the male in winter. 



Male, 4} 2 , S. 



The Common Thistle. 



Cnicus lanceolatus, Willd., Sp. PI., vol. iii. p. 1666. Pv.rsch. Flora Amer., vol. ii. 

 p. 506. Smith, Engl. Bot., vol. iii. p. 388.— Syngenesia Polygamia .equalis, Linn.— 

 Cinarocephalje, Juss. 



This well known species of thistle, common in the temperate and colder 

 parts of both continents, it is unnecessary to describe. 



