Class II. GOLD FINCH. 449 



This bird seems to have been the x§ V(r °[^T§ l s* 

 of Aristotle ; being the only one that we know 

 of, that could be distinguished by a golden Jil let 

 round its head, feeding on the seeds of prickly 

 plants. The very ingenious translator^ of Vir- 

 gil' 's eclogues and georgics, gives the name of 

 this bird to the acalanthis or acanthis : 



Littoraque alcyonen resonant, acanthida dumi. 



In our account of the Halcyon of the an- 

 tients, p. 191 of the former edition, we followed 

 his opinion ; but having since met with a pas- 

 sage in Aristotle that clearly proves that acan- 

 this could not be used in that sense, we beg, 

 that, till we can discover what it really is, the 

 word may be rendered linnet ; since it is im- 

 possible the philosopher could distinguish a 

 bird of such striking and brilliant colors as the 

 goldfinch, by the epithet kcw.ox$oqs> or bad co- 

 lored ; and as he celebrates his acanthis for a 

 fine note, qwvty \Lki rot \ryv§dv sx 0vcri >X both cha- 

 racters will suit the linnet, being a bird as 

 remarkable for the sweetness of its note, as for 

 the plainness of its plumage. 



* Which he places among the d,KO,v&o<pa. , ya,. Sculiger reads 

 the word f uco/xirf <;, which has no meaning ; neither does the 

 critic support his alteration with any reasons. Hist. an. 887. 



f Dr. Martyn. 

 . % Hist. an. 1055. 



VOL. I. 2 G 



