The GOLDEN THISTLE-FINCH (_Astragalinus tristis_), an inhabitant of the
New World, is an elegant creature, of about four and a half inches long
and eight broad. This bird resembles our Goldfinch in its appearance,
the yellow plumage being varied by a black and white bordering to its
wings and tail-feathers. The beak and feet are brownish yellow, and the
eyes dark brown; the coat of the female is deeper in its hues than that
of her mate, and has no black spot on the forehead; in other respects
it so exactly resembles its European congener, as to require no further
description, and Audubon tells us that their voices are so similar as to
be scarcely distinguishable.
[Illustration: _Plate 5, Cassell's Book of Birds_