GOLDFINCH. 399 



Young. — The young when fledged present the same appear- 

 ance as the old birds, but the colours are fainter ; the bill and 

 feet flesh-coloured, the black of the head mixed with grey, and 

 the lower parts brownish-grey. At the first moult, the colours 

 are generally as bright as those of old birds. 



Remarks. — Mr. Syme, in his excellent treatise on British 

 Song Birds, gives the following account of this species in a 

 civilized state. " The Goldfinch is easily tamed and easily 

 taught, and its capability of learning the notes of other birds 

 is well known ; but the tricks it may be taught to perform are 

 truly astonishing. A few years ago, the Sieur Roman exhi- 

 bited his birds, which were goldfinches, linnets, and canaries. 

 One appeared dead, and was held up by the tail or claw with- 

 out exhibiting any signs of life ; a second stood on its head 

 with its claws in the air ; a third imitated a Dutch milk-maid 

 going to market, with pails on its shoulders ; a fourth mimicked 

 a Venetian girl looking out at a window ; a fifth appeared as a 

 soldier, and mounted guard as a sentinel ; and the sixth acted 

 as a cannoneer, with a cap on its head, a firelock on its shoul- 

 der, and a match in its claw, and discharged a small cannon. 

 The same bird also acted as if it had been wounded. It was 

 wheeled in a barrow, to convey it, as it were to the hospital ; 

 after which it flew away before the company. The seventh 

 turned a kind of windmill ; and the last bird stood in the midst 

 of some fire- works which were discharged all round it, and this 

 without exhibiting the least symptom of fear. 



" They may also be taught to draw up little buckets or cups 

 with food and water. To teach them this, there must be put 

 round them a narrow soft leather belt, in which there must be 

 four holes, two for the wings, and two for the feet. The belt 

 is joined a little below the breast, where there is a ring, to 

 which the chain is attached, that supports the little bucket or 

 cup.*' 



