THE AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. a5 er 
within a few yards, before they leave the plant on which they are seated. 
For a considerable space along the Genesee river, the shores of Lake 
Erie, Lake Ontario, and even Lake Superior, I have always seen many 
of them in the latter part of summer. They have then a decided pref- 
erence for the vicinity of water.” 
“Tt is an extremely hardy bird, and often remains the whole winter 
in the Middle Districts, although never in great numbers. When de- 
prived of liberty, it will live to a great age ina room or cage. I have 
known two instances in which a bird of this species had been confined 
for upwards of ten years. They were procured in the market of New 
York when in mature plumage, and had been caught in trap cages. 
One of them having undergone the severe training, more frequently 
inflicted in Europe than America, and known in France by the name 
of galerzen, would draw water for its drink from a glass, it having a 
little chain attached to a narrow belt of soft leather fastened around its 
body, and another equally light chain fastened to a little bucket, kept 
by its weight in the water, until the little fellow raised it up with its bill, 
placed a foot upon it, and pulled again at the chain until it reached the 
desired fluid and drank, when, on letting go, the bucket immediately 
fell into the glass below. In the same manner it was obliged to 
draw towards its bill a little chariot filled with seeds; and in this dis- 
tressing occupation was doomed to toil through a life of solitary grief, 
separated from his companions wantoning on the wild flowers, and pro- 
curing their food in the manner in which nature had taught them. 
After being caught in trap-cages, they feed as if quite contented ; but 
if it has been in spring that they have lost their liberty, and they have 
thus been deprived of the pleasures anticipated from the previous con- 
nexion of a mate, they linger for a few days and die. It is more 
