272 NOTES ON NEW ENGLAND BIEDS 



the snow beneath, busily picking up the seed in the 

 copse. 



Jan. 27, 1860. Half a dozen redpolls busily picking 

 the seeds out of the larch cones behind Monroe's. They 

 are pretty tame, and I stand near. They perch on the 

 slender twigs which are beaded with cones, and swing 

 and teeter there while they perseveringly peck at them, 

 trying now this one, now that, and sometimes appearing 

 to pick out and swallow them quite fast. I notice no red- 

 ness or carmine at first, but when the top of one's head 

 comes between me and the sun it unexpectedly glows. 



Jan. 29, 1860. To-day I see quite a flock of the les- 

 ser redpolls eating the seeds of the alder, picking them 

 out of the cones just as they do the larch, often head 

 downward ; and I see, under the alders, where they 

 have run and picked up the fallen seeds, making chain- 

 like tracks, two parallel lines. 



[>iSiee also under General and Miscellaneous, pp. 

 419-421.] 



AMERICAN GOLDFINCH 



July 24, 1852. I heard this afternoon the cool water 

 twitter of the goldfinch, and saw the bird. They come 

 with the springing aftermath. It is refreshing as a cup 

 of cold water to a thirsty man to hear them, now only 

 one at a time. 



Aug. 26, 1856. As I stand there, a young male gold- 

 finch darts away with a twitter from a spear thistle 

 top close to my side, and, alighting near, makes frequent 

 returns as near to me and the thistle as it dares pass, 

 not yet knowing man well enough to fear him. 



