The whole length is five inches ; from the carpal joint to
the end of the wing, two inches and seven-eighths: the
fourth primary one-eighth longer than the fifth, which is considerably
longer than the sixth.
In the female, the hill is usually more slender, the red on
the head occupies less space, and is frequently speckled with
black; but in colour both sexes are generally much alike.
In young birds of the year, called by bird-fanciers Grey-
pates and (as with those of other species) Branchers, the
head, neck, back, and sides of the body are greyish-brown
clouded with a darker shade; the primaries and tertials are
tipped with buffy-white, and only the outer tail-feather on
each side has a white spot. The black on the head begins
to appear about the middle of September, and the red at the
end of that month, but it is some time before the head
assumes its perfect colouring.
The Goldfinch is subject to some variation both in size and
plumage, and, though of the ordinary aberrations in colour
observable in it, as in other birds, there is no need here to
speak, a few lines may be bestowed upon one variety long
known among bird-fanciers as the “ Cheverel* ” or “ Chevil,”
and by them regarded not only as a distinct “ species ” (which
of course from a technical point of view is wrong), but also as of
great value—according to some, because it is believed to have
a sweeter song, while others say because it pairs more freely
in captivity with the Canary-bird. What is deemed a true
Cheverel is very rare, and has the chin wholly white, with the
white of the sides of the head extending upwards in a well
defined line through the black band and across the occiput
* The bird is said by Pennant to be so called 1 ‘ from the manner in which it
concludes its jerlc” or song. Mr. Skeat has been so good as to suggest that the
name has a common origin with chefle (Ancren Riwle, circa 1200, Ed. Morton,
p. 128) otherwise chevelen— an old English word meaning to “ talk idly,” to
“ chatter”—whence would regularly come cheveller, a “ chatterer,” easily corrupted
into Cheverel and Chevil—the latter being the form most used nowadays.
Mr. Mase, a Brighton bird-fancier, with whom the Editor had the pleasure of
becoming acquainted, informed him, however, that the name was derived from
“ Cheviot Hill ’’—that being the reputed capital of the supposed “ species.” It
may be remarked that Cheverel, as applied to the Goldfinch, has nothing to do
with cheveril ( = kid) often used by Shakespear.
__the- brown patch, on the side of the breast being also leplaced
by white. But specimens shewing almost every stage
of this irregularity may be procured, from those which
possess only a white “ speck” on the chin to those which
exhibit its full extent as just described. In the more extreme
examples the bill and claws are also white—features
often seen in albinescent or albino birds, and indicating the
real nature of the present abnormality, which is common to
both sexes and to all ages, and seems to be hereditary, for a
whole family may be caught the young of which exhibit in a
greater or less degree the distinguishing marks of one or
both of their Cheverel parents*
* The Editor is not aware of any portraiFof a true Cheverel having been given,
but ornithologists are indebted to Mr. Rowley for figuring two that are sufficiently
perfect to shew the appearance of the variety (Orn. Misc. p. 91, figs, jffi 3).
This gentleman has also favoured the Editor with a letter from Mr. A. Crittenden
of Brighton, accompanying a coloured sketch of a still rarer and more beautiful
variety in which a crescentic patch of red appears behind the black band on the
side of’the neck, and it is said that the ear-coverts and breast were tinged with
yellow. Those who are curious in the matter of varieties of the Goldfinch will
do well to consult Mr. Blake-Knox’s remarks (Zool. s.s. pp. 2050-2052).