( ¿ 1 )
The Goldfinch. Carduelis.
Numb. LXIV.
ITS Weight is one Ounce and one Dram ; its Length from the End of the Bill to the
End of the Tail, five Inches and a half ,• Breadth between the Wings when extended,
nine Inches and a quarter; its Head is big confidering the Bulk of his Body,, and its
Neck fhort ; the Bill whitifh, but in fome Birds black at the very Point, o f a conical1
Figure, a little more than half an Inch long; its Tongue (harp, Eyes Hazel coloured .5.
a Ring of Scarlet coloured Feathers encompaffes the Bafis of the B ill; from the Eyes to*
the Bill, on each Side, is a Line of black ; the Jaws are white, and the Top of the
Head black, from which a broad black Line produced on both Sides, almoft to the Neck,
terminates the white; the Neck and fore-part of the Back are of a fulvous or yellowifh
brown; the Rump, Breaft and Sides are the fame, but paler, the Belly white, the Wing»
and Tail black; the Tips of the principal Feathers in both are white, and the Wings are-
adorned with a moft beautiful tranfverfe Stroakof yellow; the Tail is two Inches long,
compofed of twelve black Feathers, of which the two outermoft have largewhite Spots
on their Tips, the next lefier, the third none, the fourth a little one, the fifth a greater.
The Legs are fhort, the back Toe ftrong, armed with a Claw longer than the reft; the
lower part of the outer fore Toe grows faft to that Of the middle Toe 5 the blind Guts, as
in other Birds, are very fhort and little; it hath alfo a Gall-bladder, The Hen Bird hath
a fmaller Note than the Cock, and fings not fo much; the Feathers on the Ridge of the
Wing are dusky or cinereous, whereas in the Cock they are Jet black; by which Marks
either Sexes may be diftinguiihed.
Thefe Birds for their Beauty of Colours, and Sweetnefs of finging, are highly efteemed,,
being of a mild and gentle Nature, as appears by their eating and drinking as foon.as caught,
and prefently become tame, fo as to be in Love with their Impriionment. They are very
docible, drawing their Water in a little Ivory Bucket made for that Puroofe. Their Food
is the Seeds of Thirties, Teafel, Dock and Poppy, as Albertus makes mention-
They chufe to build their Neft in the moft thorny Bufhes, laying fix or feven Eggs 5
Bellonius affirms eight : Their Neft is built of Mofs and Wool, the infide with all Sorts
of Hair which they find on the Ground. You may breed up the young ones, taking them*
at ten Days old, feeding them with Hempfeed beat and fifted, Flower of Canary, and
Crumbs of white Bread and Water, making it freffi every Day; thefe Birds bred from the-
Neft the Cocks will couple with a Hen Canary Bird, and produce a Bird between both
kinds, partaking of the Song and Colours of each. Several of thefe I faw bred by Mrs.
Crawley, a Lady very curious in Birds. Thefe Birds, when they feed themfelves, muft.
have now and then a fmall Quantity of Lettice andPlantin Leaves, which will fcourthe
Oil of the Seed from the Stomach, and make him thrive better ; likewife give him a fmall
Quantity of Loom in the Bottom of his Cage, or a Piece of Loaf Sugar, in both o f which
they take great Delight.
Their Phyfical Ufes; they reftore in. Confumptions, and expel the Stone and Gravel,,
and all Pains and Obftruitions of the Reins and Bladder, which Virtue they retain from,
their feeding on the Thiftle and Burdock.