178 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



broken up, but at all seasons of the year the so-called "Yellow- 

 Birds" show a social spirit j whence, even in summer, two or 

 three often enjoy one another's society and fly about together. 

 The following observations on their habits in summer were 

 made among the White Mountains, where, in certain districts, 

 they were very numerous. The Goldfinches there inhabited 

 the pasture-land, in which they often built their nests, over 

 which they wandered, and from which chiefly they obtained their 

 food. There were in the place but few trees on the roadsides, 

 except such as formed the part of some wood (and in woods 

 these birds never build their nests), but the large bushes, 

 which in many places supplied this want, answered the Gold- 

 finches' purpose as well. On these bushes, or the telegraph- 

 wires and posts, males and females, or when the latter were 

 on their nests, a solitary male or several often perched. They 

 occasionally alighted in the road to pick up food, but not very 

 commonly. The daintiness and evident enjoyment of their bath 

 was very charming. They usuall} 71 waded into a gently flowing 

 brook, which rolled over clean sand, and then showered them- 

 selves with the water tossed up by the splashing of their wings, 

 bobbed their heads into the clear stream, next dressed their 

 feathers, and finally flew away, twittering expressions of their 

 pleasure. In the early part of the summer they often appeared 

 in the gardens and fruit-trees of the village, but in September 

 congregated where thistles were abundant. On the heads of 

 these weeds they perched, until the stalks swayed to the 

 ground ; and, when this brief ride was finished, they bent over to 

 feed upon the seeds. In the same way do they often treat the 

 garden-iris in summer, when the rich blue or purple of that 

 flower forms a most gorgeous contrast with their plumage. 

 Whilst assembled, the goldfinches are always extremely har- 

 monious, and seem to express their happiness by their delight- 

 ful cries. Their flight, as every one who knows them must 

 have observed, consists of a series of marked undulations, and 

 occasionally of great circles in the air. If pursued by any 

 bird of prey, they mount in circles often to a great height, 

 knowing well that they are safe only when above their ene- 



