196 
FRINGILLID.E. 
INSESSORES. 
CONIROSTRES. 
ERIN GILL TD^E. 
GOLDFINCH. 
Fringilla carduelis. 
PLATE L. FIG. I. 
I HAVE nowhere seen the Goldfinch so abundant during 
the breeding-season as it is in the midland counties of 
Derby, Nottingham, and Leicester, where it is univer¬ 
sally known by the absurd name of proud tailor. Most 
of the gardens and orchards which surround the various 
villages and farm-houses are their resort during the sum¬ 
mer months. The favourite position for their nest in such 
situations is similar to that chosen by the chaffinch, the 
bough of an apple- or pear-tree ; and when in the neigh¬ 
bouring fields, that of a low elm. It is also frequently 
built in evergreens. I remember finding a singularly 
beautiful nest of this species at the top of a lofty laurel, 
which, surrounded as it was by the green leaves, very much 
resembled some of those diminutive nests of the humming¬ 
bird, which are frequently brought to this country encir¬ 
cled by evergreen leaves; this bush had been the constant 
resort of the birds, during the cold and protracted spring, 
for several weeks previous to the discovery of the nest, 
so that they seem to have made their choice of its site on 
their first arrival in the neighbourhood. 
The nest is very small, and is sometimes a good deal 
like that of the chaffinch in neatness of outline, although 
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