226 THE FEATHERED TRIBES. 



Many can say with Hiirdls, — 



" I love to sec the goldfinch twit aud twit, 

 And pick the groundsel's feathered seeds ; 

 And then, in hower of applo-hlossom pei'ch'd, 

 Trim his gay suit, and pay us with a song." 



But this is one of the favonrito cage-birds, as well as one of great beauty, in a state of 

 nature. The goldfinch is easily tamed, hardy, lively, capable of being taught many 

 little tricks, and, when properly attended to, almost continuaUj' in song. It will live 

 longer in confinement than almost any other of the Httle birds. For ourselves, however, 

 we have no delight in imprisoning these beautiful and delightful choristers, and many a 

 one, unhappily, might have adopted the words of Oowper : — 



" Time was when I was free as au', 

 The thistle's downy seed my fare, 



My drink the morning dew ; 

 1 perched at will on every spray, 

 My form genteel, my iilumage gay, 



My strains for ever new. 



But gaudy plumage, sprightly strain, 

 And form genteel were all in vain, 



And of a transient date ; 

 For caught and caged and starved to death, 

 In dj'ing sighs my little breath 



Soon passed the wiry grate. 



Thanks, gentle swain, for all my woes, 

 And thanks for this eifeetual close 



And cure of every ill ! 

 More cruelty could none express ; 

 And I, if you had shown me less, 



Had been your prisoner still." 



THE GREEN FINCH.* 



The Green Finch, or green linnet, as it is sometimes called, differs from the other 

 finches in the form of its bill, in whicli it more resembles the sparrows, but its habits arc 

 more like those of the other finches. Wordsworth has well portraj'cd the character of 

 this bird and the scenes it loves to frequent : — 



'■■ Beneath these fruit-tree boughs, that shed 

 Their snow-white blossoms on my head, 

 With brightest sunshine round rac spread 



Of Spring's unclouded weather ; 

 In this sequester'd nook how sweet 

 To sit upon my orchard seat ! 

 And birds and (lowers once more to greet. 



My last year's friends together. 



One have I marked, the happiest guest 

 In all this covert of the blcss'd ; 

 J tail lo thee, far above the rest 



In joy of voice and pinion, 

 Tlu)U, linnet ! in thy green array, 

 I'residing s])irit here to-day, 

 ] )ost lead tlie revels of the May, 



And this is tliy dominion. 



• Fringilhi Chloris. 



