568 ERINGILLID^. 



cotton ; the third day I supplied them with fine down, on 

 which they forsook both the other, and finished their work 

 with this last article. The nest, when completed, was 

 somewhat larger than is usually made by this bird, but 

 retained the pretty roundness of figure and neatness of 

 workmanship which is proper to the Goldfinch. .The nest 

 was completed in the space of three days, and remained 

 unoccupied for the space of four days, the first egg not 

 being laid till the seventh day from beginning the work." 

 The eggs are four or five in number, pale bluish white, 

 with a few spots and lines of pale purple and brown ; the 

 length eight lines and a half, the breadth six lines. 



The young birds are fed for a time with caterpillars, and 

 other insects, and when able to follow their parents, they 

 rove together in small flocks over commons and other un- 

 cultivated lands to feed on the ripened seeds of the thistle, 

 burdock, or dandelion, with chick weed, groundsel, or 

 plantain. If watched while thus feeding, they may be 

 seen climbing and clinging in all directions and positions 

 about the stems, picking out their favourite portions. If 

 approached too near, the little party, one by one, move off 

 to the next nearest patch, with undulating flight, twitter- 

 ing as they rise 



" Each outstretched wing 

 A fairy fan, with golden sticks adorned," 



and thus roving in small flocks, through the autumn and 

 winter, living almost entirely on various seeds, particularly 

 those of the different species of thistle, they perform 

 good service to the agriculturist by consuming the prolific 

 source of many a noxious weed. 



The Goldfinch is found in numerous localities, both in 

 England and Wales ; it occurs, according to Mr. Thomp- 

 son, in certain parts of Ireland ; and as an inhabitant of 



