The Finch Tribe . 
193 
flight, from the support of the air. Hereupon it came, that this bird 
is painted in arms without feet: and for this cause it is also given for 
a difference of younger brethren, to put them in mind to trust to their 
wings of vertue and merit, to raise themselves, and not in their legs, 
having no land to put their foot on.” ( Display of Heraldry , p. 231.) 
Of the Finch tribe only one or two kinds seem to 
have been distinguished. Harrison mentions 
“bulfinshes and goldfinshes.” 
Gascoigne writes :■—• 
“ The flnche which singeth never a note but peepe.” 
(Complaint of Pliylomena.) 
The Bullfinch was known by a variety of names. In 
Chaucer he appears as the Alp 
“ In many places were nyghtyngales, 
Alpes, fynches, and wodewales.” 
( The Bomaunt of the Bose.) 
He was also called bulspink, hoop, monk, pope, and in 
Scotland coallyhood. 
In the same poem by Chaucer we find mention of the 
chalaundre, which is interpreted by commentators to 
mean the Goldfinch:— 
“ Chalaundres fele saw I there, 
That very nigh forsongen were.” 
Drayton writes :•— 
“ And of these chaunting fowles the goldfinch not behind. 
That hath so many sorts descending from her kind.” 
(Polyolbion, song xiii.) 
In a poem by Alexander Montgomery, a Scotch poet, 
about 1570, we read :•— 
“ About a bank with balmy bewis, 
Quhair nychtingales thair notis renewis. 
With gallant goldspinks gay ; 
The mavis, merle, and progne proud, 
The lintquhyt, lark, and lavrock loud, 
Salutit mirthful May.” 
(The Cherris and the Slae.) 
o 
