so as to extend considerably over, and, we may not un- reasonably suppose, protect the belly—a character possessed in a still greater degree by the Mergansers (-lIergimt), while the males also exhibit in the extraordinarily developed bony labyrinth of their trachea and its midway enlargement another resemblance to the members of the same Subfamily. The Golden-eye, C'. glauciun of modern writers, has its home in the northern parts of both hemispheres, whence in winter it migrates southward; but as it is one of the Ducks that constantly resorts to hollow trees for the purpose of breeding it hardly transcends the limit of the Arctic forests on either continent. So well known is this habit to the people of the northern districts of Scandinavia, that they very commonly devise artificial 11esbboxes for its accom- modation and their own profit. Hollow logs of wood are prepared, the top and bottom closed, and a hole cut in the side. These are affixed to the trunks of living trees in suitable places, at a convenient distance from the ground, and, being readily occupied by the birds in the breeding- season, are regularly robbed, first of the numerous eggs, and finally of the down they contain, by those who have
set them up.The adult male Golden—eye is a very beautiful bird, mostly black above, but with the head, which is slightly crested, reflecting rich green lights, a large oval white patch under each eye, and elongated white Scapulars ; the lower parts are wholly white and the feet bright orange, except the webs, which are dusky. In the female and young male, dark brown replaces the black, the cheek—spots are indis— tinct, and the elongated white scapulars wanting. The Golden-eye of North America has been by some authors deemed to differ, and has been named C'. americana, but apparently on insufficient grounds. That country, however, has, in common with Iceland, a very distinct species, C. islanclica, often called Barrow’s Duck, which is but a rare straggler to the continent of Europe, and never, so far as known, to Britain. In Iceland and Greenland it is the only hibitual representative of the genus, and it occurs from thence to the Rocky Mountains. In breeding—habits it differs from the commoner species, not placing its eggs in tree-holes ; but how far this difference is voluntary may be doubted, for in the countries it frequents trees are wanting. It is a larger and stouter bird, and in the male the white cheek-patches take a more crescentic form, while the head is glossed with purple rather than green, and the white scapulars are not elongated. The New World also possesses a third and still more beautiful species of the genus in C. albeolrl, known in books as the Buffel—headed Duck, and to Am 3rican ft nvlers as the “ Spirit-Duck” and “ Butter-ball ” —the former name being applied from its rapidity in diving, and the latter from its exceeding fatness in autumn. This is of small size, but the lustre of the feathers in the male is most brilliant, exhibiting a deep plum—coloured gloss on the head. It breeds in trees. and is supposed to have occurred more than once in Britain.
GOLDEN FLEECE. See Argonauts.
GOLDEN LEGEND. See Voragine, Jacobus de.
GOLDEN ROSE (rosa aurea), an ornament, made of wrought gold and set with gems, which is blessed by the pope on the fourth (Lmtare) Sunday of Lent, and usually afterwards sent as a mark of special favour to some distin- guished individual, church, or civil community. The ceremonies which at present accompany the consecration of a golden rose are of a somewhat elaborate character, and are expliined by liturgists as designed to make it specially emblematic of Christ and of the Christian graces. Some difficulty is experienced in tracing them to their ultimate origin; but the custom of blessing and sending some symbol of the kind seems to be as old at least as the time of Gregory the Great, with whom it was a frequent practice to send persons whom he wished to flatter a few particles filed from “Peter’s chains,” and set in keys or crosses of gold (Greg, 0]). ii. 6-18, 711, 796, 1031, ed. 1705). This practice continued to be observed for several centuries ; thus we find Gregory \'II., in 1070, writing to Alphonso of Castile, “Ex more sanctorum misimus vobis claviculam auream in qua dc catenis beati I’etri benedictio continetur” (Mansi, Cone. Gem, xii. 460). The first mention of the “ golden rose,” as such, is said to occur in the 11th century; and an allusion to it is certainly made in the Chronicle of William of N ewburgh (1197). Pope Urban \'., who sent a golden rose to Joanna of Naples in 1366, is alleged to have been the first to determine that the consecration should be annually observed. Among the very numerous recipients of this honour have been Henry VIII. of England, the famous Gonsalvo de Cordova, and, in more recent times, Napoleon III. of France and Isabella II. of Spain. The gift of the golden rose used almost invariably to accompany the coronation of the king of the Romans. If in any particular year no one is considered worthy of the rose, it is laid up in the Vatican.
elis of Linnteus and the Carduelis clef/(ms of later authors, an extremely well—known bird found over the greater parts of Europe and North Africa, and eastwards to Persia and Turkestan. Its gay plumage is matched by its sprightly nature; and together they make it one of the most favourite cage-birds among all classes. As a songstcr it is indeed sur- passed bymany other species, but its docilityand readyat tach- ment to its master or mistress make up for any defect in its vocal powers. In some parts of England the trade in Gold— finches is very considerable. In 1860 Mr llussey reported (Zool., p. 7144) the average annual captures near Worthing to exceed 11,000 dozens—nearly all being cock—birds ; and a witness before a Committee of the House of Commons in 1873 stated that, when a boy, he could take forty dozens in a morning near Brighton. In these districts and others the number has of late years become much reduced, owing doubtless in part to the fatal practice of catching the birds just before or during the breeding-season ; but perhaps the strongest cause of their growing scarcity throughout the kingdom is the constant breaking—up of waste lands, and the extirpation of weeds (particularly of the Order Ctmposita) essential to the improved system of agriculture ; for in many parts of Scotland, East Lothian for instance, where Gold- finches were once as plentiful as Sparrows, they are now only rare stragglers, and yet there they have not been thin- ned by netting. Though Goldfinches may occasionally be. observed in the coldest weather, incomparany the largest number leave Britain in autumn, returning in spring, and resorting to our gardens and orchards to breed, when the lively song of the cock, and the bright yellow wings of both sexes, quickly attract the notice of even the nnobservant. The nest is a beautifully neat structure, often placed at no great height from the ground, but generally so well hidden by the leafy bough on which it is built as not to be easily found, until, the young being hatched, the constant visits of the parents reveal its site. When the broods leave the nest they move into the more open country, and frequent— ing pastures, commons, heaths, and downs, assemble in large flocks towards the end of summer. I-Iastward of the range of the present species its place is taken by its con- gener C. mniceps, which is easily recognized by wanting the black hood and white ear-coverts of our own bird. lts home seems to be in Central Asia, but it moves southward in winter, being common at that season in Caslnnerc, and is not unfrequcntly brought for sale to Calcutta. The
position of the genus Curt/(Ida's in the family Fringill-idce
- ↑ The more common German name, lnnvcvr-r, is Distraffluk ('1'histlc~ Finch) or 5711711711.
