Goldfinch. Wild Canary. Thistle-Bird 



His gentle ways and sweet disposition are never-failing 

 antidotes for discontent. One cannot be long near a 

 flock of these birds without being impressed by the refine- 

 ment which seems to mark their every note and action. 



Chapman. Bird Life.^^ 



Among the commonest sounds in the country in late 

 summer are the clusters of notes from the goldfinch in 

 its wavy flight far overhead, one cluster in each undula- 

 tion, and — to be precise — synchronizing with its wing- 

 vibrations, which occur in the last or rising half of each 

 wave. 



Parkhurst. The Birds' Calendar.^^ 



Just listen to him some day as he flies away from his 

 nest, singing over to himself in tones of exquisite love and 

 tenderness his sweet hay-hee, hay-ee-bee. 



Florence A. Merriam. Birds Through an Opera Glass. ^ 



Their flight is expressive of their joyous nature, and 

 as they bound through the air they hum a gay per-chic-o- 

 ree, per-chic-o-ree. 



Chapman. Handbook of Birds.^^ 



Why this brief vision of golden fiUgree that seems 

 suddenly flung across my fancy? What is the talisman? 

 ''I've cheated ye, per chick o pee, per chick o pee." What 

 but the tiny goldfinch that has passed overhead in its 

 looping flight, festooning the ether in glowing drapery of 

 black and gold, each embroidered loop pinned with a 

 wisp of song. 



Gibson. Strolls by StarHght and Sunshine.^^ 



71 



