YELLOW-BIRD ; AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. 



CHRYSOMITRIS TEISTIS. 



THE yellow-birds, frequenters of our door-yards and 

 gardens, are of all birds the gentlest-mannered. 

 With their heads crowned with black caps, their yellow 

 bodies, black wings and tails, they are dainty, high-bred 

 visitors. When singing in chorus, as is their habit, their 

 soft warblings are expressive of great delight. In their 

 most characteristic song, of only four notes, they are 

 stronger-voiced, singing with distinctness and moderation. 

 This song is performed while on the wing, and is all the 

 more charming because of the touch of sadness that it 

 has for the sensitive listener. The flight of the yellow- 

 birds follows the fashion set by the woodpeckers. It is like 

 the riding of a boat over great billows — up — down — 

 up — in graceful curves, with a stroke of the wings for 

 each swell, to the accompaniment of the little song, — 



8va. 



With sweep and swing from crest to crest, the song 

 runs : — 



