90 THE WESTERN GOLDFINCH. 



stalks and enli\-ening their quest with iiukIi pleasant chatter, mnv scattering 

 in obedience tO' some whimsical command and sowing the air with their 

 laughter. Pcrchic'-opcc or pcrdiic'-ichic'-opcc, says every Ijird as it glides 

 down each successive billow of its undulating flight. So' enamored are the 

 Goldfinches of their gypsy life that it is only when the summer begins to 

 wane that they arc willing tO' make particular choice of mates and nesting 

 spots. As late as the middle of July one may see roving bands of forty or 

 fifty individuals, but by the first of August they are usually settled to the 

 task of rearing young. The nesting also appears to be dependent in some 

 measure upon the thistle crop. When the weeds are common and the season 

 forward, nesting may commence in June; but so long as thistle down is 

 scarce or wanting, the birds seem loath to begin. 



Nests are placed in the upright forks of various kinds of saplings, or 

 even of growing plants, in which latter case the thistle, again, proves first 

 choice. The materials used are the choicest obtainable. Normally the inner 

 bark of hemp is employed for warp, and thistle-down for woof and lining, 

 so that the whole structure bleaches tO' a characteristic silver-gray. In the 

 absence or scarcity of these, grasses, weeds, bits of leaves, etc., are Imund 

 together with cobwebs, and the whole felted with other soft plant-dnwns, 

 OT even horse-hair. The whole is made fast thruout its depth to the su] sport- 

 ing branches, and forms one oi the most durable of summer's trophies. 



From four to si.x, but commonly five, eggs are laid, and these of a delicate 

 greenish blue. Fourteen days are required for hatching; and from the time 

 of leaving the nest the youngsters drone hahcc! habcc! with weary iteration, 

 all thru the stifling summer day. 



During the nesting season the birds subsist largely uix)n insects of 

 various kinds, especially plant-lice, flies, and the smaller grasshoppers ; Init at 

 other times they feed almost exclusively upon seeds. They are very fond of 

 sunflower seeds, returning to a favorite head day after day until the crop 

 is harvested. Seeds of the lettuce, turnips, and other garden plants are 

 levied upon freely where occasion offers; but thistle seed is a staple article, 

 and that is varied bv a hundred seeds besides, which mme could grudge 

 them. 



Thruout the winter the Western Goldfinches are much less in evidence, 

 the majority of them having retired to the southland at that season. Those 

 which remain are somewhat altered to appearance: the wings and tail show- 

 much pure white, and the )'ellow proper is now confined to the throat and 

 the sides of the head and neck. He is thus a lighter and a brighter bird 

 than his eastern brother. But the western bird has the same merry notes and 

 sprightly ways which ha\'e made the name of Goldfinch synonymous with 

 sunshine. 



