290 THE USEFUL BIRDS 



THE GOLDFINCH, 



Cardiielis cardiiclis, Sliarpe. 



The crimson face and the golden patch on the wing make 

 plain to us at once this sweet- voiced bird. It was introduced 

 from Europe, over which it has a wide range. Now we 

 have it strongly placed within our country. Although to be 

 found in the environs of towns, it is essentially a bird of 

 the country. I claim it as a useful bird. During the thistle 

 season it feeds exclusively on its seeds, and is thus a help in 

 the problem of weed destruction — " the war against w^eeds." 

 This little bird is an agent for good in one direction — viz., 

 that it is of much importance to the tiller of the soil. Certain 

 garden weeds produce an incredible number of seeds. "A 

 single plant of one of these species may mature as many as a 

 hundred thousand seeds in a season, and if unchecked would 

 produce in the spring of the third year ten bilKon plants." 

 Fortunately, certain agents are at work to check this harvest, 

 and perhaps the most efficient among them are the seed- 

 eating birds. Since they attack weeds in the most critical 

 stage of life — the seed period — it follows that their services 

 must be of enormous practical value. The benefits are 

 greatest in the case of "hoed" crops, since here^re found the 

 largest number of annual weeds, which depend very much 

 upon seeds for perpetuation. Here is where the Goldfinch 

 serves man well. In a new^ country, with roadsides and 

 vacant fields everywhere, it is impossible for the most thrifty 

 people to keep down weeds. It is just in these places where 

 seed-eating birds strongly congregate. When the Goldfinch 

 nests next year in one of our fruit trees, let us remember its 

 trend for good, and encourage our boys to refrain from 

 harassing the unconscious friend of man. 



