334 
GOLD FtN C-h. One 
This bird feems to have been the xguoquites* of 
Afifiotle; being the only one that we know of, 
that could be diftinguifhed by a golden fillet round 
its head, feeding on the feeds of prickly plants. 
The very ingenious tranflator + of Virgil’s eclogues 
and georgics, gives the name of this bird to the 
acalanthis or acanthis: 
Littoraque alcyonen refonant, acanthida dumi. 
In our account of the Halcyon of the antients, 
p- 191 of the former edition, we followed his opi- 
nion; but having fince met with a paflage in 
Arifiotle that clearly proves that acanthis could not 
be ufed in that fenfe, we beg, that, till we can dif- 
cover what it really is, the word may be rendered 
innet; fince it is impoffible the philofopher could 
diftinguifh a bird of fuch ftriking and brilliant 
colors as the goldfinch, by the epithet xaxoxec0s, or 
bad colored; and as he celebrates his acanthis for 
a fine note, Qavny ev TOL Aryupay exect z. both charac- 
ters will fuit the linnet, being a bird as remark- 
able for the fweetnefs of its note, as for the plainefs 
of its plumage. 
* Which he places among the axayvSopaya. Scaliger reads 
the word gucouite:c, which has no meaning ; neither does the 
_ ritic fupport his alteration with any reafons, Ai. an. 887. 
+ Dr. Martyn. 
t if. an. 1055. 
Le 
