Other Birds of the Sparrow Family 329 



Goldfinches eat various dry seeds, including those of 

 the thistle. They are often seen near water, drinking 

 or bathing. Their flight is wavering up and down, and 

 as they fly, they utter the joyous notes which remind one 

 of a canary. When do they breed ? The willow goldfinch 

 of the Pacific coast is a variety of the Eastern species. 



The European goldfinch is one of the most handsome 

 birds of that continent. It is often caged and has been 

 set free in this country, but has not as yet become com- 

 mon anywhere. 



The buntings. The beautiful painted bunting is not 

 rare in the Southern Atlantic and Gulf states. The 

 entire lower parts are vermilion-red, the back yellowish 

 green, the rump dull purplish red, and the head and 

 neck purplish smalt-blue. 



The indigo bunting is nearly as small as the goldfinch. 

 The males are a bright blue except for the wings and 

 tail, which are blackish, the 

 feathers margined with blue. 

 The females are brown like 

 the English sparrow, with a 

 slight tinge of blue on the 

 tail and wings of the adult. 

 In a good light the mature 

 males are beautiful birds, but 

 their mates look so different 

 that it is hard to believe they 

 are of the same species. 



Indigo buntings are common 



in summer in clearings. They u. s. Dept. of Agriculture 



may be seen also on telephone FIG. 205. Painted bunting. 



