THE GOLDFINCH 89 
ing, is perhaps a more general favourite than any other British 
bird. Though in its natural state less familiar with man than the 
Redbreast, and inferior as a musician to the Lark, the Thrush, and 
others of our resident birds, it is more frequent as a caged bird than 
either, and thus is known to tens of thousands of city folk who 
never heard the wild song of the Thrush, nor saw a Redbreast under 
any circumstances. In a cage it is attractive from its lively move- 
ments, its agreeable song, and yet more from its docility, as it not 
only is readily tamed, but may be taught to perform various tricks 
and manceuvres utterly repugnant to the nature of birds. Its 
affection, too, for its owner is not less remarkable. Of this many 
instances are, I doubt not, familiar to the reader; but the following 
is not so well known. There was some years since in a small town, 
about twelve leagues from Paris, a tame Goldfinch, which belonged 
to a carrier, and which for many years regularly accompanied his 
master twice a week to and from the metropolis. At first it used 
to content itself with perching on the driver’s seat, and from time 
to time flying a short distance ahead, or gambolling with other 
birds of the same kind that it encountered on the way. By and 
by it seemed to grow dissatisfied with the slow pace of the wagon, 
and took long flights in advance, still returning from time to time 
to its accustomed perch. At length, becoming more enterprising, 
it would leave its master in the lurch, and fly in advance the whole 
of the way, and announce his approach at the house in the city 
where he put up. If the weather was stormy, it would quietly 
await his arrival, taking up its quarters by the fireside ; but if the 
weather was fine, it would, after making a brief stay, return to 
meet him. At every meeting, caresses and congratulations were 
exchanged, as fondly as if they had been separated for years. This 
romantic attachment was at length terminated by the disappearance 
of the bird, but whether through the instrumentality of a cat, a 
Hawk, or some mischievous boy, was never discovered. 
Whatever doubt may exist as to the services rendered to man 
by the Sparrow and Chaffinch, about the Goldfinch there can be no 
difference of opinion. The farmer has no better friend, and yet 
an abundance of Goldfinches on an estate is anything but a welcome 
sight ; for it denotes abundance of its favourite food, the seeds of 
thistles. Where these weeds flourish, there, for the most part, 
Goldfinches are to be met with in considerable numbers. The 
French name, Chardonneret, denotes ‘a frequenter of thistles’, 
and the ancient Greek and Latin name for it, Acanthts, is of similar 
import ; the Acanthis, Pliny tells us,! bears animosity against no 
living creature but the donkey, a beast which eats the flowers of 
thistles, and so deprives it of its food. To this dietary it adds 
the seeds of dandelions, centaury and other weeds, but shows a 
decided preference for the seeds of the compound flowers. Its 
1 Nat. Hist., lib. x., cap. lxxiv. 
