218 A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



(78) THE CHAFFINCH. 

 (FEINGILLA CALEBS— Linn.) 



Description. — Top and sides of the head and nape slaty-blue, back 

 dull-brown, with faint blackish streaks ; the rump and the upper tail- 

 coverts dull green ; the tail feathers greyish-black, the outer ones being 

 faintly white margined; the exposed parts of the wings blackish- 

 brown ; the wing-coverts black with conspicuous white patches ; cheeks, 

 throat, and the under parts generally reddish-brown; bill bluish- 

 plumbacious ; total length about 6 inches. 



Hab. — The chaffinch is found almost all over Europe, extending 

 to Northern Africa in the south, and as far east as Beluchistan. 



(79) THE GKREENFINCH. 

 (LIGUEINUS CHLOEIS— {Linn.) ) 



Description. — The prevailing colour of the upper plumage ashy- 

 green ; the chin and breast apple-green, brighter in the lower breast ; 

 the abdomen bright greenish yellow ; wings blackish-brown, the basal 

 portion of the primaries yellow, with generally a blackish-brown spot ; 

 the terminal portion of the tail feathers blackish-brown, the basal 

 portion yellow ; a large grey spot at the side of the head below the 

 eyes; the iris hazel; total length about six inches; the females are 

 somewhat smaller and much less brightly coloured, being generally ashy- 

 brown, tinged with greenish, the abdomen somewhat albescent. 



Hab. — The greenfinch or the green linnet, as it is popularly called, 

 is distributed throughout the whole of Europe, except the extreme 

 north; it extends as far south as the west side of North Africa, and 

 eastward as far as the Ural mountains. 



(80) THE GOLDFINCH. 

 (CARDUELIS ELEGANS— Steph.) 



Description. — The distinguishing characteristics of the goldfinch 

 are its scarlet crown and throat, and the bright yellow of the basal 

 portion of the wing ; the hinder part of the crown, the nape, and a 

 crescent-shaped band from the nape to the side of the neck black ; the 

 parts immediately at the base of the beak, and round and in front of 

 the eye also black, but this is not conspicuous when viewed from a 

 distance ; the lower throat below the scarlet and the sides of the head, 

 between the black and scarlet, white, and so is also a small triangular 

 space on the hind neck immediately below the black ; back, sides, and 

 the breast bright brown ; the lesser wing-coverts black ; the greater wing- 

 coverts, and the basal half of the quills bright yellow at their exposed 

 parts, the terminal half black with white tips; the tail-feathers black; 

 the two central feathers white-tipped; some of the outer tail-feathers 

 having elongated white marks near the tip of the inner webs ; the 

 female is much duller in colour, the red of the forehead and throat much 

 less or none ; total length about five inches. 





