78 



FINCH. 



in my collection, which had been a caged bird, and gradually be- 

 came of that colour.* 



G. — Carduelis nigra icterocephalos, Bris. iii. 61. G. Id. 8vo. i. 323. Buf. iv. 207.8. 



Cardueli congener, Rati, 90. 2. Will. 189. 



Bird, akin to the Goldfinch, Will. Engl. 257. Gen. Syn. iii. 285. G. 



Rather larger than a Goldfinch. The bill surrounded with a 

 saffron-coloured ring ; the rest of the head, and upper parts blackish; 

 breast greenish black ; belly and under parts brownish ash-colour ; 

 edge of the wing greenish black ; quills black, with more white than 

 common in them ; the usual yellow parts merely inclining to yellow ; 

 quills black. 



H. — Carduelis Hybrida, Bris. iii. 62. H. 

 Cardnelis spurius, Gerin. iii. t. 355. 2. 

 Chardonneret metis, Buf. iv. 207. 

 Canary Goldfinch, Albin, iii. pi. 70. /3. 



The head in this is not unlike that of a Goldfinch, but less 

 bright ; upper parts of the body yellowish brown ; the under yellow ; 

 wings as in the Goldfinch ; tail yellow, tipped with black. This 

 Variety proceeds from a mixture between the cock Goldfinch, and 

 the hen Canary Finch. 



Mr. Pennant mentions two other Varieties, one called a Cheverel, 

 from the manner of concluding its jerk, distinguished by a white 

 streak, or two or three white spots under the throat. This is taken 

 not above once in two or three years, by the London bird-catchers, 

 and sells for a very high price. 



* This had hempseed for its usual food. Buffon mentions one that changed black all at 

 once, after being four years in a cage. It kept so for eight months, when it began to resume 

 its former colours, and this happened three times. An electrified Goldfinch lost the red of the 

 head and yellow of the wings six months after. 



