FRINGILL A CARD U ELI 5, 



GOLDFINCH, 



Generic Character. See Fiingilla Domeftica. 



Fringilla Carduelis. Lin. Syfl. u p. 318. 7. 



Goldfinch or Thistle finch. Br. ZgoL 2. 124. 



Lath. Syn. 3. p. 281. Mont. Onu Diet, 

 Bewick's Br. Birds, Pt. u p. 182. 



JL H I S beautiful fpecies is in length near five inches ; bill 

 conic; eyes dark hazel ; legs (lender. Colours nearly fimilar 

 in both fexes, thofe of the female are fcarcely fo vivid, and 

 the wing coverts are inclined to brown. The neft is elegantly 

 conftru&ed, it is externally formed of mofs, dry grafs, and 

 lichens, and lined with the down of thiftles, hair, and wool ; 

 it ufually lays four or five eggs, of a blueiln white colour, 

 (lightly fpotted with dark purple at the large ft end. 



The Goldfinch is very common throughout this king- 

 dom ; its docile difpofition, joined to its melody of note, and 

 elegance of colours, has long been the caufe of its being kept 

 in a ftate of confinement, and in forne inftances we may fay 

 of flavery ; as it is not unfrequently obliged to draw up 

 water in a bucket from a confiderable depth; and to procure 



Synonyms. 



