My Dear Sir

You were kind enough to receive favorably some observations I had made on sexual coloration in Australian Finches of the genus Amadina,¹ and at the risk of boring you will now add some on the English Finches.—

I will premise by observing that all the truly British species of both Fringillidæ and Emberizidæ² including the rarest have been kept by me in captivity & therefore I have had the advantage of comparing their different actions in the breeding season, the greater number have not however displayed any disposition to pair.—

There is but one species which displays any brilliant color on the wings, the male Goldfinch has however a very jet black shoulder, the tips of the primaries should also be dark with white spots about 6 in number visible when the wing is closed, and the tertiaries have also dark tips with three white spots visible, this the fanciers call 3 by 6, but the most conspicuous ornament is the brilliant gold edging of the feathers of the wings from which the name of the bird is derived.—

Now when a male goldfinch approaches the female under sexual excitement, he sways his body from side to side slightly expanding his wings and producing when looked at in front quite a dazzling golden flash, thus enhancing his attractions in this respect three fold, first one gold wing is turned towards the hen & in an instant the other is presented to her gaze, no doubt the brilliant color remains on her retina thus as with our selves a continuous flash of gold is produced.—

I have watched all the other Finches in the act of courtship but no other except the goldfinch turns rapidly first one side and then the other to attract the attention of the ♀, because if they did no beauties would be thus displayed.—

The only other species of the genus Carduelis, the Siskin³ appears to have no antics whatever, but its body is tolerably uniform in coloration, & turn as it might no further attractions would be unfolded.

The Bullfinch⁴ always turns towards its mate its bright red breast bowing and twisting from side to side its jet black tail in quite a ludicrous manner—

Chaffinches⁵ also look the hen steadily in the face thus shewing, their blue bills & heads which are thus colored only during the breeding season, and displaying all the beauties of their red breasts, at the same time slightly expanding the wings so that the pure white bands on the shoulders become very conspicuous & contrast well with the other colors.—

The four sober colored species of Linaria viz Cannabina, Minor, Borealis & Montana all shew in the Spring red on their heads & breasts except the last which has the color only above the tail.⁶ I have however failed to see them make decided use of the color to attract the females, but have no doubt it is so used.—

I have not remarked anything peculiar in the actions of all the other British Finches, nor in the Emberizidæ which are mostly very dull birds except the Reed Bunting (E Schœniclus)⁷ which is very lively & entertaining & in Spring the ♂ erects the black feathers then appearing on its head & neck.—

Believe me | My Dear Sir | Yours very sincerely.— | J Jenner Weir

C Darwin Esq^r.