242 KNOWING BIRDS THROUGH STORIES 



why the wild ones did not sing so well as those in our 

 neighbor's cage. I realized that they are slightly heavier 

 in build than canaries, and that they have black wings and 

 a black cap; but canaries often show. a great deal of black, 

 and resemble goldfinches fully as much as the wild pigeons 

 resembled the tame ones that nested in our barn. I find 

 that most people make the same mistake of calling the 

 goldfinch a wild canary. At home when these birds 

 played havoc with the seed on an especially desired let- 

 tuce plant mother spoke of them as lettuce birds but 

 that was only a temporary name. In my own mind 

 I ascribed their inability to sing as well as tame 

 canaries to their lack of training. The facts are 

 that they belong to the same family but are different 

 species. 



Peter had no wife. This was not Peter's fault, for of 

 all the goldfinches in the vicinity none was more gallant 

 to the lady goldfinches and none sang so often as Peter. 

 In fact, it was this insistent singing that caused me to 

 watch him carefully enough to learn that he was a bache- 

 lor. 



Goldfinches are sociable birds and usually fly in flocks of 

 at least half a dozen. Alighting on a sunflower head or a 

 weed that promises to furnish seed, they hunt carefully 

 for some time and then fly away together to the next 

 place. They have a peculiar up and down motion in their 

 flight, and a "Cut-a-cut-cut" in a sweet wave like voice as 

 they fly. Should they pass where others of their kind are 

 sitting, they always receive an invitation to stop for a 

 visit and seem always to accept the invitation. Peter was 

 different. He hunted alone in the garden and the meadow, 

 tho he always invited every passing flock to dine with 



