Goh/jiHch. 1 1 3 



friend atteuds his mate, whetlier slie be at ho'iie or 

 abroad. As she sits ligliliy in her dainty home, he 

 swings on the hedge near her, and gossips with her about 

 the happenings of his late quest for lettuce and sunflower 

 seeds. Indeed, he need not go far in search of food; for at 

 the base of the hedge below the nest the pink tufts of the 

 thistles have already ripened to brown, and he need only 

 to flutter down from the side of his mate and gather from 

 the stores. Near the site of the nest they flutter and 

 chant; and when the gentle mistress leaves her cares for 

 a brief run about the neighborhood, he bounds along at 

 her side to attend and interest her. When the young 

 gladden the hearts of the patient pair, they curve away 

 from the nest in company to gather the downy food 

 relished by the hungry brood, and, returning together to 

 the nest, they utter their sweetly plaintive notes a-perch 

 of adjacent branches. 



The anxiety of the female is eloquently expressed by 

 the syllables "pee-pee," repeated at intervals, uttered in a 

 wonderfully touching and appealing manner; and it is 

 probable that the specific name tristis was given to the 

 species from the sadness clearly expressed in the tender 

 plaint. Frequently she says "pee" several times, and 

 follows it by her sweetly uttered "pee-pee," executed with 

 greater force and sympathy. The male is generally close 

 at hand, and he adds his plaintive calls to the sad ex- 

 pressions of his mate. 



When the youngsters, grown until they find the little 

 habitation too crowded for further occupancy, are ready 

 to leave their home, the little family goes forth to swing 

 all day upon thistle-head, sunflower, and ragweed stem, 

 along roadside, railroad, and in garden— united, loving, 

 and happy. It is one of the pleasant sights of the late 

 fall to observe the happy parents leading forth their 

 younglings after the nest has served its purpose. The 

 merry youngsters bound from one thistle head to another, 

 and the gentle call notes of the fond elders suggest the 

 lessons they fain would impart to the careless hearts 

 flockinj? about them. The roving life has commenced, but 

 the family ties are not to be broken, and the chill winds 

 and freezing snows will only tend to bind more clo.sely 

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