PLATE XXII. 
The Gold Finch. 
Is a Bird univerfally admired both for its fong and variety of colour. It is a familiar and docile 
bird, eafily taught to draw water and open a box for its food, extremely delicate, and tender and 
will not bear the leaft handling. I have known many inftances of their ftruggling whilft changing 
cages, which ftruggle has broken a blood veffel and by bleeding at the mouth they have expired in- 
llantly. There are two forts of thefe birds the larger and fmaller, the larger one far furpafles the 
other in colour but the fmaller one is more excellent for its fong. Many have not the light fpots at 
the end of the tail and wing which are obferved in this plate. Another mark which adds much to 
their value is the red fpot which fome have at the back of their head, which bird is diftinguifhed by 
the name of the Red-Ear. Great flocks are to be met with at the latter end of the year. The bird 
catchers are frequently known to take two hundred at one throw. They make it a point to kill all 
the hens becaufe if they efcaped they would be fhy of the net and prevent others from being taken. 
They lay five eggs and fit three or four times in a feafon. In winter they haunt the barn doors 
whilft the threfliers are at work to feed on the feeds which are feperated from the corn. They are 
remarkably fond of thiftles and are always to be met with where they grow. The male differs from 
the female in brilliancy of colour, and is by far the richer of the two; the black on the pinion is 
a diftinguifhed mark, as the hen is never fo dark in that part. 
No. VIII. 
R 
