GOLDFINCH 



morning I had my camera set at the right time, close enough to 

 secure these pictures, as they are; covered it; tied back the bushes 

 a little farther; and hiding, began waiting. 



The young were clamorous for food. I thought there were 

 six in the nest from the bobbing heads, but count on the plates 

 proved only four. Both old birds constantly flew with food, 

 which they had swallowed and then regurgitated in large white 

 pellets, mostly hulled seeds no doubt. They did not empty the 

 cloaca, the nest being completely encrusted on all sides without, 

 but the young were clean, the elders dainty as possible. In 

 the succeeding days I made numbers of studies, gradually moving 

 the camera close and mostly preferring the male as he showed 

 better on the plate. Each time I left I closed the bushes care- 

 fully; removing every trace of my work. I was training the 

 young, and had them almost ready to take their pictures, when 

 the morning hour found the nest empty; not a trace of any vio- 

 lence, but empty. I was sure they were not ready to go, but 

 they were gone. With all the woodcraft I had at command, I 

 could form no conclusions as to when or how they had disap- 

 peared. I could not hear them in the shrubbery, and not a note 

 from the elders, so to-day I have no idea what happened to them, 

 nor have I ever found another nest; yet each summer hun- 

 dreds come to our garden and sunflower hedge, grown especially 

 for their benefit. 



Remembering my experience in mother's garden, I would 

 advise anyone desiring to attract Goldfinches to their grounds 

 to allow plenty of lettuce to go to seed in the garden. These 

 birds also feast on radish seed, while they are perfect gourmands 

 over the tiny grains of mustard seed. 



During work on the Hardison Orioles of this book, I noticed 

 in the old, country garden adjoining the orchard, such flocks of 

 feeding Goldfinches that several times I was tempted to try to 



99 



