LH ENANMETTCAN GOLDFINCH. 45 
Should one stroll into the open air for health and relaxation, he will, 
especially if at the culminating period of vegetation, be sure to meet 
with whole troops of these finches clinging to the sturdy stalks, and 
flitting among the dusty, trailing gowns of the invincible and waving 
weeds. Especially does the Goldfinch seem to favor and love the well 
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armored ‘ Bull thistle” of the school boy ; Cyzcus lanceolatus of syste- 
matists; the emblem of ‘‘ Bonnie Scotland;” the sentinel knight of 
lordly mien and a thousand well tempered lances ; whose helm is pur- 
pure, and whose motto ‘ Nemo me tnepune lacessit,” is a pointed chal- 
lenge to the rash one who would deflower him ; but whose bolls, when 
sere and brown with ripeness, are ruthlessly torn open by our yellow 
friend who regales himself upon their myriad seeds, the downy wings 
of which he scatters upon either side, to be dandled by the passing 
breeze. 
The stroller, as he continues his easy tramp, now over a rustic 
bridge which spans a laughing shallow stream or a moist depression in 
the highway, or by the damp sedge of a leaning length of fence, as 
well as upon the very highway itself, is hailed by romping congregations 
of this bird and welcomed to the freedom of their haunts. In the latter 
part of August, when the conditions already described have culminated, 
he will not fail to notice that the major number of these happy forms 
seem to be of nearly one uniform tint or complexion. Now and then, 
it is true, a finch may be noted that still bears a brightly tinctured coat 
when seen from a short distance ; but which, upon closer inspection will 
reveal an undertone of tawny hue displacing the auriferous plumes of 
the vernal season, soon to eventuate in a uniformity of dress for both 
of the sexes. The fact is, that at this time, as a prominent writer upon 
such topics has well said, “ The Goldfinches doff satin for linen,” in 
