(_Carduelis elegans_)
Properly speaking, the name “goldfinch” ought to be the designation
of the canary, but it was doubtless given to the well-known British
bird long before canaries were thought or heard of in England, and the
former has, therefore, an indefeasible title. And, after all, if the
canary be put aside, the designation is really very suitable to the
goldfinch, referring as it does to the bright golden wing-bar which
distinguishes both sexes from all other British birds. Taking into
consideration the fact that both sexes share the brilliant plumage
characteristic of the species, the goldfinch can lay claim to be the
most brightly coloured perching-bird indigenous to the British Isles
and north-western Europe generally.
To describe the colouring of such a well-known bird would be altogether
superfluous on the present occasion, more especially as it is so
excellently shown in the Plate. It may be remarked, however, that there
is some amount of individual variation in this respect, and that the
development of the red area on the head and of the white spots on all
the tail-feathers is a feature of the adults alone; and it may be added
that in regard to colouring females differ from the males chiefly by
the smaller extent of the red area, which may contain black spots.
To one variation bird-fanciers have given the special name of
“cheverel”; this rare sport, when fully developed, being characterised
by the wholly white chin, and by the white patch on the cheek extending
upwards so as to unite across the back of the head with its fellow of
the opposite side. The brown patch on the breast is likewise replaced
by white. Every kind of variation between a typical goldfinch and the
so-called cheverel may be seen; and it is thus evident that the latter
is merely a partially albinistic phase of the former.
There is an idea, doubtless unfounded, that the cheverel, or chevil, as
it is sometimes called, mates better with the canary, and is likewise
a superior songster; and it is to the latter notion that it owes its
name, which is apparently derived from an old English word _chefle_ or
_chevelen_, signifying to talk idly, or chatter.
The distributional area of the goldfinch extends from the British Isles
to western and central Siberia, beyond which it is replaced by the
grey-headed goldfinch (_Carduelis caniceps_)--a bird with which the
large eastern race of the European species will interbreed. Although
the goldfinch is only a casual visitor to Scotland, in Scandinavia its
breeding-area extends some five degrees farther north than that of its
cousin, the brambling.
[Illustration]
Owing to the estimation in which it is held as a cage-bird, the
goldfinch was almost exterminated from most parts of England some
years ago; but now that bird-nesting has been to a great extent
stopped, the species is gradually recovering its numbers, and may
often be seen on many thistle-covered commons to which it was long
a stranger. In addition to Europe and western and central Asia, the
goldfinch also inhabits northern Africa, while it has been introduced
into New Zealand and Japan.
Its favourite haunts are open lands on the borders of woods,
plantations, fields with trees, parks, and commons and other waste
grounds. Thick forests it studiously avoids.
The food of this bird consists of seeds, more especially those of
thistles and burdocks, as well as those of the birch and the alder. As
a rule, it seeks those on the plants and trees themselves, and not on
the ground; and in picking out the seeds from thistle-heads, it may be
seen hanging head-downwards and in various other graceful attitudes
on the stems. From the nature of its food, the goldfinch is, indeed,
a most valuable bird both to the agriculturist and the gardener, on
whom it confers additional benefits by disturbing insects which take
up their quarters in its food-plants. It is, therefore, worthy of
protection on two grounds--its utility and the beauty of its plumage,
to say nothing of its song.
The nest is a beautifully made structure, nearly resembling that of
the chaffinch, and generally built by the female alone, who is cheered
in her task by the continuous song of the cock. It is frequently built
in gardens, often at no great distance from the house, generally at
a height of from fifteen to twenty feet above the ground, the most
favoured situation being the fork of a bough, in which it is so well
secured that it will retain its place even when the tree is felled. The
four or five black-spotted bluish green eggs are laid by the female in
May, and are hatched in thirteen or fourteen days. The young remain in
the company of their parents for some time after they have left the
nest. In many parts of the Continent goldfinches collect in the autumn
in large flocks, which in winter break up into small parties of from
ten to twenty birds.