A CLEVER ARCHITECT. 243 



and less richly varied in its colouring, by the anxiety 

 which the bird displays not to leave a single leaf of moss 

 or lichen projecting, all being smoothly felted with wool, 

 which in some manner conceals the moss ; whereas in the 

 Chaffinch's nest the lichens usually conceal the wool.' 

 Bolton describes the Goldfinch's nest as ' bound with blades 

 of dried grass, and a few small roots' a circumstance, 

 says Eennie, which has not fallen under our observation, 

 though this may be sometimes resorted to, for it may be 

 seen in the nests of some Chaffinches, and not in others. 

 Again, Bolton has found the nest on the bough of a plane 

 tree ; but Eennie says, l We have usually met with it in 

 orchards, in elms, and, more rarely, in hawthorn hedges. 7 

 Some describe the nest as lined with thistle down ; but 

 this must be a mistake at all events, with those built in 

 May and early in June, for none of our native thistles 

 flower before the end of the latter month, and none have 

 down before July. Grahame has well described the nest, 

 and the situations in which it is placed, in the following 

 lines : 



The Goldfinch weaves, with willow-down inlaid, 



And cannach tufts, his wonderful abode. 



Sometimes suspended at the limber end 



Of plane-tree spray, among the broad-leaved shoots, 



The tiny hammock swings to every gale ; 



Sometimes in closest thickets 'tis concealed ; 



Sometimes in hedge luxuriant, where the briar, 



The bramble, and the plum-tree branch, 



Warp through the thorn, surmounted by the flowers 



Of clinging vetch, and honeysuckle wild. 



All undefaced by art's transforming hand. 



But mark the pretty bird himself; how light 



And quick his every motion, every note ! 



How beautiful his plumes ! His red tinged head ; 



His breast of brown : and see him stretch his wing, 



A fairy fan of golden spokes it seems. 



Oft on the thistle's tuft he nibbling sits, 



Light as the down ; then, 'mid a flight of down, 



He wings his way, piping his shrillest call. 



' In most parts of Linlithgow,' writes Mr. Weir, ' Goldfinches, 

 which during the summer season were at one time very abundant, 

 are now rarely seen. Several pairs of them used to build every year 

 on the tall plane trees on the south side of Balbardie gardens. I 





