GOLDFINCH. 147 



A careful observer of birds tells us that on one 

 occasion he was silently watching a nest of young 

 Greenfinches, when the old bird perched near, and the 

 young set up a great chirping. 



" Hitherto," he says, " I had been quite concealed 

 from the old bird ; but the wind moving the ivy-leaves, 

 her eye and mine met, and the same moment she 

 uttered a quick note, which was scarcely uttered before 

 all the chirping instantly ceased, the young ones 

 perfectly understanding the sign." 



An example of quick and intelligent obedience 

 worthy of imitation in our own domestic circles. Who 

 can read it, and not think kindly of the pretty 

 Greenfinch ? 



GOLDFINCH. 



Carduelis elegans ; Grosbec chardonneret ; Disteifink. 

 Thistle-finch ; Draw-water. 



Bill, white, with black tip; back of the head and nape, 

 black ; forehead and throat, crimson-red ; wings, varie- 

 gated with black, white, and brilliant yellow; tail, black, 

 with white oval spots, and slightly forked. Length, 

 five inches. 



This, one of the most beautiful of our Irish birds, is, 

 I fear, becoming one of the rarest ; in some counties 

 indeed, it seems to be almost extinct. In Dublin, for 

 instance, we usually see it only in a cage ; and even in 

 the County Meath, where at one time it was very 

 plentiful, it is now rapidly becoming scarce. Mr. Ussher, 



