i66 
NATURAL HISTORY, 
more brilliantly coloured, than thofe of the 
hen. An old cock has a blueifli head, reddift 
brown back, mixed with green and afli-co- 
iour, fine purple red brealt, and a white bel- 
ly. Thebreail of the hen is grey. 
This bird is very docile and familiar, and 
may be taught, with attention, any tune; 
It put in company witli other birds it will 
imitate their notes. The cock will couple 
with the Canary bird. 
Food . — Jlape and Canary feed. 
GOLDFINCH. — This bird, which is great- 
ly admired for fong and beauty, is the fineft 
feathered of all cage birds, and fo long, lived, 
that Willoughby mentions one. to have lived 
twenty-three years. The cock is diftinguifli- 
ed by a curious I'carlet circle round the fore 
part of his head, or bafis of the bill. 
Foor^.—When young, give them white 
bread, loaked in clean water, to a very thick 
confluence. To. this, add a little flour of 
Canary-feed. I’hey fliould be fed at leafl; eve- 
ry two hours, but very fparingly, and with 
fiefli food evei'y day. In about a month, you 
may wean them gradually from this foft food, 
by laying fome Canary-leed belide^ until they 
can he brought to live on it entirely. 
GREEN-FINCH, green-linnet, or green- 
biid, is of a hardy nature, and rather larger 
than the chaffinch. The head and back of 
the cock are green, edged with grey. The 
middle 
