68 TWENTIETH CENTURY CLASSICS 



These hardy, gregarious, social birds are largely resi- 

 dents within their northern homes, moving southward as 

 the deep snow covers their main supply of food, rather 

 than from choice or habit, nesting from southern Califor- 

 nia, southern Kansas and Kentucky, northward; south, 

 I think only a winter sojourner, except, perhaps, in moun- 

 tainous districts. 



Their gentle ways, bright colors, sweet song, and undu- 

 lating, chirruping flight readily attract attention, and as- 

 sure them, as a rule, a welcome, though they are not 

 always in good standing with the gardener, who objects 

 to their taking at the harvest a small share of the ripened 

 seeds. For this, they more than repay by the destruction 

 of the seeds of the many weeds and injurious plants, upon 

 which they largely feed throughout the winter months. 

 The thistle is a favorite, and they are also very fond of 

 the seeds from the cones of the hemlock, etc., and of the 

 button balls of the sycamore trees. They are easily tamed, 

 and their low, warbling song, that at times swells up quite 

 loudly, much like the Canary, makes them a favorite cage 

 bird. 



Their nests are placed in the branches of trees and 

 bushes, generally on apple or small elm trees, from six 

 to twelve feet from the ground. They are constructed of 

 and firmly attached to the limbs on which they rest, with 

 fine hemp-like strippings from plants and bits of cottony 

 substances, and lined with hairs, and now and then a 

 feather. Eggs four to six, .65x.50; pale bluish white; 

 when fresh and unblown, with a rosy hue; in form, oval. 



