THE GOLDFINCH. 



23? 



it required some time and attention to teach the Gold- 

 finch the use of the handle for holding up the lid of the 

 box; but the Redpole had watched the operation, and 

 learned by observation how to do it as well as his 

 friend*. 



The following is another instance of sagacity in a pair 

 of Goldfinches. These little birds had built their nest 

 on a small branch of an olive-tree; after hatching their 

 brood, the parents 

 perceived that the 

 weight of the grow- 

 ing family would 

 soon be too great 

 for the strength of 

 the branch which 

 supported the nest ; 

 in fact, it was be- 

 ginning to give way. 

 Something was to _,.-. 

 be done, or the nest "^ 

 would fall, this 

 was evident to be- 

 holders, and equally so to the Goldfinches; accordingly, 

 they were observed to fasten by a small string they had 

 picked up, the bending twig, to a stronger and higher 

 branch of the tree, and thus their nest was saved. 



Another pair happened to build in the garden of a 

 naturalist, who was fond of observing the manners and 

 habits of birds. They had formed the ground-work 

 with moss and dried grass as usual, but on his scattering 

 small pieces of wool, they in a great measure left off 

 the use of the first materials, and employed the wool. 

 He next provided them with cotton, which they imme- 

 diately collected; the third day he supplied them with 

 down, on which they forsook both the others, and finished 

 their work with it. 



It is surprising too with what rapidity, in cases of 



* Phren. Journal, No. 34, p. 72. 



odfinch. 



