FINCH. 75 



Id. Song Birds, pi. p. 18. Hayes, Birds, pi. 34. Bolton, Birds, pi. 21, 22. 

 Bewick, Birds, pi. p. 1G5. Lewh^s Birds, ii. pi. 81. Wale. Birds, \\. pi. 219. 

 Donov. pi. 103. Pi</£. Ca£. Dors. p. 12. Or«. Z)*c£. Graves Br. Ornith. 



SIZE well known. Bill white, tipped with black, the base 

 surrounded with a ring of rich scarlet feathers ; from the corners of 

 the mouth a black line; cheeks white; top of the head black ; the 

 white on the cheeks bounded, almost to the fore part of the neck, with 

 black ; hindhead white ; back, rump, and breast, pale tawny brown, 

 the two last lightest; belly white; wing coverts in the male black; 

 quills black, marked in their middle with beautiful yellow, tips 

 white ; tail black, but most of the feathers marked near their ends 

 with a white spot ; legs white. 



The female differs in having the feathers at the base of the bill 

 brown, which in the male are black ; lesser wing coverts brown ; and 

 the black and yellow on the wings less brilliant. 



The young bird is grey on the head, and by the bird-catchers is 

 called a Grey Pate. The Goldfinch in some parts of England is 

 called Thistle-Finch, and Goldspink; also Tailor, and Proud Tailor: 

 as far back as Shakespear's time at least.* In Cheshire Jack Nicker, f 



This bird is much esteemed for its fine note, as well as great 

 tameness and docility; % it makes a curious, and well-constructed 

 nest, of fine moss, liverwort, thistle down, &c. lining it first with 

 wool and hair, and then with the down, or gosling, of the Sallow : 

 lays five white eggs, marked with deep purple spots at the larger 

 end ; it has two broods in a year ; often builds in orchards, and in 

 fruit trees; its principal food appears to be the seeds of thistles and 

 teasel, about which it is most commonly found, but will eat also 

 plaintains, chickweed, hemp, and other seeds in turn ; said to be a 

 long-lived bird, and will often exceed 20 years.§ 



It is in plenty throughout Europe, and found as high as Sondmor ; 

 whether it goes farther north is doubtful : common in Germany, 



* See Hen. IV. Act. 3. Sc. 1.— note. f Archaol. Vol. 19. p. 29. 



% Those of Kent are most esteemed. § Gesner. — Daud. i. 126. 



L 2 



