THE GOLDFINCHES. 
39 
the greater part of Europe to Central Siberia and Central 
Asia while the grey-headed Goldfinch {C.caniceps) is found in 
the Himalayas, and extends to Eastern and Central Sibe * 
Central Asia. In Siberia C. earners interbreeds with the 
ordinary Goldfinch, or rather with the larger an d whiter race 
which occurs in Eastern Europe and Siberia, and which h 
been called C. major by Russian naturalists. 
THE GOLDFINCH. CARDUELIS CARDUELIS. 
(Plate VIII.) 
Frin^illa carduelis, Linn., S. N., i., p- (t766). . , 
Carduelis elegans, Macg., Br. B., 1., p. 393 (* 37) > " , 
Yarr., ii.f p. n 7 (1877) J Dresser, B. Eur 11, p. 5»7, P • 
166(1877); B. O. U. List Br. B., p. 47 ( lS ^3) ; Saunders, 
Man , p. 165 (1889); Lilford, Col. Fig. Br. B., pt. xv. 
Carduelis carduelis, Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus., xii., p. 185 (1888). 
Adult Male-Above pale chocolate-brown ; greater wing- 
coverts golden yellow ; quills black, tipped with white, the 
basf of the primaries golden yellow, forming a conspicuous 
patch ; crown of head andaband behind the ear-coverts black , 
forehead crimson ; bill rosy whitish, with the ip • , 
fleshy brown; iris brown. Total length, 5-2 inches, oilmen, 
°’55 ; wing, 3’2 ; tail, i'85 ; tarsus, o 6. 
Sexes alike in plumage. 
Young— Light brown, with no red on the face; underneath 
white, washed with brown on the fore-neck, breast, and si e 
body, all of which are spotted with blackish. 
Range in Great Britain— Generally distributed but now local 
where once it was common. In many parts of t re nort , an m 
Scotland, it is only an accidental visitor. Local in Ireland . 
Range outside tlie British Islands— Europe generafly, occurring 
in Scandinavia to lat. 65" and in the Ural Mcmntains to lat 
6°“- The exact limit between the range of our Doidfinch and 
of the larger Eastern race (C- major) has not ye 
rately determined. 
Habits. — The Goldfinch is essentially a bird of the country, 
and has in many of the southern counties been driven away by 
