90 



THE WESTERN GOLDFl.'^l 



stalks ami cnlivciiiiij^ tlicir quest vvitli iiuicli pleasant chatter, mm scattering 

 in olKrclicnce to some whimsical command and sowing the air with their 

 lauglitcr. I'crchk'-opcc or pcrchic' -ichic' -opcc , says every bird as it glides 

 down each successive billow of its undulating flight. So enamored are the 

 Goldfinches of their gyi)sy life that it is only when the summer l>egins to 

 wane that they are willing to make particular choice of mates and nesting 

 spots. As late as the middle of July one may see roving bands <»f forty or 

 fifty individuals, but by the hrst of August they are usually settled to the 

 task of rearing young. The nesting also ap|)ears to be dt'iiendent in st»me 

 measure upon tiie tliistic crop. When the weeds are common and the season 

 forward, nesting may commence in June; but so long as thistle down is 

 scarce or wanting, the birds seem loath to l)egin. 



Nests are placed in the upright forks of various kinds of saplings, or 

 even of growing i)lants, in which latter case the thistle, again, jjrovcs first 

 choice. The materials used are the choicest obtainable. Xormaily the inner 

 bark of hemp is employed fi>r warp, and thistle-duwn for wtjof and lining, 

 so that the whole structure bleaches to a characteristic silver-gray. In the 

 absence or scarcity of these, grasses, weeds, bits of leaves, etc.. are Ixnmd 

 together with cobwebs, and the whole felted with other soft plant-d'iwns. 

 or even horse-hair. The whole is made fast thruout its depth to the supfHirt- 

 ing branches, and forms one of the most durable of summer's trophies. 



From four to six, but commonly five, eggs are laid, and these of a delicate 

 greenish blue. Fourteen days are rerpiired for hatching: and from the time 

 of leaving the nest the youngsters drone babcc! bahcc! with weary iteration, 

 all thru the stifling summer day. 



During the nesting sea.son the birds subsist largely u]x>n insects of 

 various kinds, especially plant-lice, flies, and the smaller grassliopjiers ; but at 

 other times thev feed almost exclusively upon seeds. They are very fond of 

 sunflower seeds, returning to a favorite head day after day until the croj) 

 is harvested. Seeds of the lettuce, turnips, and other garden plants are 

 levied \\\ton freelv where occasion offers; but thistle seed is a staple article, 

 and that is varied In a hundred see<ls besides, which none could grudge 

 them. 



Thruout the winter the AXestern Goldfinches are nnich less in evidence, 

 the majoritv of them having retired to the southland at that sea.son. Those 

 which remain are somewhat altered to ai)i)earance: the wings and tail show 

 much pure white, and the yellow proper is now confined to the thri>af and 

 the sides of the head and neck. Me is thus a lighter an<l a brighter bird 

 than his eastern brother. Rut the western bird has the same merry notes and 

 sprightlv wavs which have made the name of Goldfinch synonymous with 

 sunshine. 



