26O LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



the hair of small animals. The nest was four 

 inches in diameter, and three in height; with a 

 depth of cavity and diameter at the rim of about 

 two inches. 



The eggs are four in number, oblong-oval, 

 light green, and spotted chiefly about the larger 

 extremity with light'ferruginous markings. They 

 measure .70 of an inch in length and .50 in breadth. 



CJirysomitris tristris, Bonap. 



The Goldfinch is moderately abundant in East- 

 ern Pennsylvania during the dreary winter months, 

 being to a certain extent a permanent species: It 

 occurs mostly in .small flocks of a half-dozen, and 

 frequently in pairs. In early autumn these flocks 

 are rather large, and also early in April, when 

 there is an increasing development of food-stuffs. 



Throughout the winter it leads a nomadic exist : 

 ence, in consequence of the scarcity of food. It 

 often seeks the habitations of man where it freely 

 mingles with the snow birds and sparrows, like 

 the subject of the preceding sketch, and derives a 

 subsistence from the refuse matter of the kitchen. 

 It now becomes exceedingly tame and approach- 

 able. While enjoying our hospitalities it does 

 not disdain its own natural food. If a bush ofLoni- 

 cera periclymenum is close by and in fruit, it does 

 not hesitate to enter and gorge itself to satiety. 

 For % this fruit it affects great partiality. Like 

 Larpqdacus piirpnrcus, it feasts upon the seeds of 

 Raphanus sativus, Amarantus hybmdus, A. a/bus, 



