GOLDFINCH. 



CARDUELIS ELEGANS, Stephens. 



Carduelis elegans, Stephens, Gen. Zool. xiv. p. 30 (1826) ; 

 Macg. i. p. 393 ; Yarr. ed. 4, ii. p. 117; Dresser, hi. 

 p. 527. 



Fringilla carduelis, Naum. v. p. 126; Hewitson, i. p. 196. 



Chardonneret , French ; Distelfink, Stieglitz, German ; 

 Jilguero, Gilguero, Colorin, Spanish. 



It would be quite superfluous for me to go into any 

 details as to the habits of this well-known and very 

 beautiful bird. I hear many reports from various parts 

 of the country of the sad diminution in numbers of the 

 Goldfinch, caused by the persistent arts and devices of 

 the bird-catchers, who can always obtain a ready sale 

 for these attractive little Pinches ; another cause of their 

 comparative scarcity is no doubt the tillage and recla- 

 mation of many waste lands, which afforded them an 

 abundant supply of the seeds of various wild plants, 

 their natural and favourite food, but I am glad to say 

 that in the part of England with which I am best 

 acquainted, I can neither perceive or hear of any lack of 

 Goldfinches, and at the time of present writing (June 

 1890), I am informed of at least four nests within two 



