38 
allen’s naturalist’s library. 
Eastern Siberia to lat. 50°. Visits Southern Europe and the 
Mediterranean countries in winter, and eastwards it is found m 
Turkestan and the North-western Himalayas, Japan, Eastern 
Siberia, and China. 
Habits. — When the Brambling arrives in late autumn it betakes 
itself generally to the beech-woods, roosting in evergreen 
shrubs in the neighbouring woods and sometimes traversing 
a considerable distance to reach its roosting-place It feeds on 
beech-mast and seeds of the alder, and occasionally visitsfanm 
yards in company with Chaffinches, with which it consorts 
largely in the woods during the day. 
The Brambling has been said to breed in the British Islands, 
but these records are mostly untrustworthy, though 1 one i instance 
of a nest being found in Scotland by Mr. E. T. Booth 
seems to be authentic. 
Nest.— Of the same type as that of the Chaffinch, but rather 
larger and not so neatly finished off. “ Its principal beauty, 
saws Mr. Seebohm, “is derived from the mixture of green 
moss, lavender-coloured lichens, and white birch-bark, inter- 
woven with cobwebs, thistle-down, and buff inner birch-bark; 
it is lined with fine grass and feathers. 1 he nest is built in a 
birch or spruce fir-tree, often at a considerable height from the 
^ Eggs!- — Resemble those of the Chaffinch, but the ground- 
cofour s darker and rather more olive or stone-colour. Markings 
similar' to those of the Chaffinch. Axis, cy-o'S inch ; diam., 
0-55-0-6. (Plate XXXI., Fig i.) 
THE GOLDFINCHES. GENUS CARDUELIS. 
Carduelis , Briss., Orn., m., P- 53 ( I 7 6 °)- 
Type, C. carduelis (Linn.). 
Tt is difficult to define the exact differences of form be- 
tween the Chaffinches and the Goldfinches, but the latter are 
much more slender birds and have a longer and more pointed 
bill By their style of plumage, however, the Goldfinches 
are easily recognisable, the crimson face and the golden patch 
on the wing making them very conspicuous. Two species of 
Goldfinch are known, our British bird occurring throughout 
