miniber, and sometimes assemble in small flocks. They now affect open upland districts, commons, sterile 
wastes, and all situations suited to the growth of their favourite thistle, groundsel, and plantain. This food, 
however, is not suitable for the young, and they are accordingly fed with caterpillars and other insects ; 
hence considerable good must be effected by these birds during the breeding-season. 
Independently of the British Islands, over which the bird is generally distributed, the Goldfinch inhabits 
all parts of the Continent, from Norway, Sweden, and Russia to the Mediterranean and Black Seas ; it is 
also found in Northern Africa, Asia Minor, and Persia, but not in India, its place there, or rather in the 
Himalayas, being supplied by another and equally interesting species, the Carduelis caniceps. 
The history of the Goldfinch would be incomplete without an allusion to its capacity for receiving 
instruction, and the consequent readiness with which it may be taught many amusing tricks, such as drawing 
up water for itself, raising the lid of a small box to obtain the seeds within, feigning death, &c. I have 
already spoken of its prettiness, and I may add that its colouring is both harmonious and beautiful ; its form 
also is graceful, elegant, and well-proportioned ; the Goldfinch is, in fact, the gay gentleman of our smaller 
birds. In most instances where much decoration is given, it is usually confined to the male ; but in the 
present case the two sexes are nearly alike. 
Speaking of the Goldfinch in Scotland, Macgillivray states that it is “generally distributed in most of our 
wooded and cultivated districts ; but while plentiful in some parts, it is rare in others that seem to be equally 
favourable. Thus, although not uncommon about Aberdeen and Elgin, it is very rare in the neighbourhood 
of Edinburgh, in which I never met with more than a single flock.” This statement is confirmed by the 
following note, with which I have been favoured by the Duke of Argyll; — “The Goldfinch is a rare bird in 
Dumbartonshire ; but small parties are seen during the winter at uncertain intervals. In Argylesbire it is 
wholly absent, so far as I have observed, in the more wooded and in the more mountainous districts ; but it 
is not uncommon, and appears regularly to breed, along some of the lower western shores. I have observed 
young birds, in considerable numbers, in the Ross of Mull.” 
The nest of the Goldfinch is placed indifferently among the trees of orchards, gardens, and plantations, at 
various heights, according to the suitability of the sites that occur, sometimes among the very topmost 
branches. A very beautiful nest, taken at Formosa, near Cookham, in Berkshire, in July 1860, was jflaced 
on one of the loftiest branches of a tall sycamore, and was curiously interwoven between the slender forks of 
the extremity of the branch ; the interior was deep, the walls somewhat thick, and the whole presented a 
round and compact appearance. The exterior Avas maiidy composed of one or two different kinds of bright 
green lichens, firmly interAVOven Avith dried moss and spiders’ webs ; the interior Avas Avarmly lined Avith the 
downy cotton-like substance of the blossoms of the willow, intermingled Avith wool and a A^ery fcAv horse- 
hairs, the three ingredients being felted together, so as to render it perfectly smooth and even. The eggs, 
four in number, were of a pale greenish stone-colour, some\Adiat faintly blotched Avith light reddish purple, 
the blotches becoming more numerous towards the larger end, and having among them a few very distinct 
patches of rich umber. The materials of the nest appear to vary considerably. One of two, formerly in the 
possession of the late T. C. Heysham, Esq., of Carlisle, Avas externally composed of dried bent grasses, 
interwoven Avith lichens, moss, and avooI, beautifully lined with thistle-clown and a feev A^rv fine hairs ; the 
other AA^as mainly formed of roots instead of grasses, and had a few feathers in its lining, besides the thistle- 
doAvn and hair. Mr. Macgillivray describes the nest as resembling that of the Chaffinch in form, but as 
being more elaborately interwoven Avith avooI and hair, — the exterior being composed of moss and lichens, 
and occasionally thread, twigs, and other substances ; the Interior, of the down of A^arious plants, cotton, and 
such other delicate filaments as the bird meets Avith. Mr. Salvin mentions that at Djendeli, in the Eastern 
Atlas, the Goldfinch builds a neat nest, composed almost entirely of the floAvers of the tamarisk. 
The plumage of the adult male and female are so accurately represented in the accompanying Plate, that 
it Avill not be necessary to append a minute description of them. The young birds of the year have the 
Avhole of the head, neck, back, and sides of the chest of a. nearly uniform greyish broAAii ; in other respects 
they resemble the female ; the black of the head begins to appear about the middle of September, and the 
red tOAA'ards the end of that month. 
The tAvo sexes are figured, of the natural size, on the Wild Teasel (^Dipsaciis syhestris). 
