Genus XXXVIII. FRINGILLA. FINCH. 



Species I. F. TRISTIS. 



YELLOW-BIRD, or GOLDFINCH. 



[Plate I. Fig. 2.] 



Linn. Syst. i., p. 320. — Carduelis Americana, Briss. hi., p. 64. — Le Chardonneret 

 jaune, Bhff. iv., p. 112, PL Enl. 202, f. 2. — American Goldfinch, Arct. Zool. 

 II., No. 242.— EwD. 274.— Lath. Stjn. in., p. 288, 57.— Id. Sup. p. 166.— Bar- 

 tram, p. 290. 



This bird is four inches and a half in length, and eight inches in 

 extent ; of a rich lemon yellow, fading into white towards the rump and 

 vent. The wings and tail are black, the former tipped and edged with 

 white, the interior webs of the latter are also white ; the fore part of 

 the head is black ; the bill and legs of a reddish cinnamon color. This 

 is the summer dress of the male ; but in the month of September, the 

 yellow gradually changes to a brown' olive, and the male and female 

 are then nearly alike. They build a very neat and delicately formed 

 little nest, which they fasten to the twigs of an apple tree, or to the 

 strong branching stalks of hemp, covering it on the outside with pieces 

 of lichen, which they find on the trees and fences ; these they glue 

 together with their saliva, and afterwards line the inside with the soft- 

 est downy substances they can procure. The female lays five eggs, of a 

 dull white, thickly marked at the greater end ; and they generally raise 

 two broods in a season. The males do not arrive at their perfect plum- 

 age until the succeeding spring ; wanting, during that time, the black 

 on the head ; and the white on the wings being of a cream color. In 

 the month of April they begin to change their winter dress, and before 

 the middle of May appear in brilliant yellow ; the whole plumage to- 

 wards its root is of a dusky bluish black. 



The song of the Yellow-bird resembles that of the Goldfinch of 

 Britain ; but is in general so weak as to appear to proceed from a con- 

 siderable distance, when perhaps the bird is perched on the tree over 

 your head. I have, however, heard some sing in cages with great energy 

 and animation. On their first arrival in Pennsylvania, in February, 

 and until early in April, they associate in flocks, frequently assembling 

 in great numbers on the same tree to bask and dress themselves in the 

 morning sun, singing in concert for half an hour together ; the confused 



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