KUIXdlLLID.E — THE FlNdlE.^. 473 



jMoiintaiiis, wliore its nest and eu'^s were obtained. The nests procured hy 

 Mr. Uidgway were all lound ahout dune ♦>, except one, ten days later, sliow- 

 inj]; that these birds are lour or live weeks earlier in their hreedinLr on the 

 Pacific than on the Atlantic coast, in the I'intah Mountains thev were 

 breediuLr, as at the Kast, in dulv. 



The (loldlinch is to a larife extent »'re<4arious and nomadic in its hal»its, 

 and only for a short j)ortion ot" the year do these ijirds separate into pairs lor 

 the purp«)ses of reproduction. Uurin;^ at least three fourths of the year they 

 associate in small Hocks, and wander al»»ut in an irrei^adar and uncertain 

 manner in (piest of their food. They are resident throuj^hout the year in 

 New Kngland, and also throughout the greater portion of the country, their 

 presence or ai)sence being regulated to a large extent by the abundance, 

 scarcity, or absence of their favorite kinds of food. In the winter, the seeds 

 of the taller weetls are their principal means of subsistence. In the sum- 

 mer, the seeds of the thistle and other plants and weeds are sought out 

 by these interesting and busy gleaners. They are abundant in gardens, and 

 as a general thing do very little harm, and a vast amount of benefit in the 

 destruction of the seeds of troublesome weeds. As, however, thev do not 

 always discriminate between seeds that are troublesome and those that are 

 desirable, the (loldfinches are unwelcome visitors to the farmers who seek to 

 raise their <»wn seeds of the lettuce, turnip, and (.»ther similar vegetables. 

 They arc al* j very fond of the seeds of the sunflower. 



Owin*; possibly to the scarcity of proper food f(»r their young in the early 

 summer, the CToldfinches are ([uite late before they mate and raise their single 

 brood. Jr is usually i»ast the loth of July before their nests are ctmstructed, 

 and often Sei)tenil)er before their broods are ready to fly. 



The sonir of the Goldfinch — very different from their usual idaintive crv 

 or call-note, uttered as tliey are flying or when they are feeding — is very 

 sweet, brilliant, and pleasing; most so, indeed, when given as a solo, with no 

 other of its kindred within hearing. 1 know of n(»ne of our connnon singers 

 that excel it in either respect. Its notes are higher and more flute-like, and 

 its song is more prolonged than that of the Turple Finch. AVhere large 

 flocks are f(mnd in the spring or early sunnner, the males often join in a very 

 curious and remarkable concert, in which the voices of the several performers 

 do not always acc(jrd. In spite of this fretiuent want of harmony, these con- 

 certs are varied and pleasing, now ringing like the loud voices of the Canary, 

 and now sinking into a h)w soft warble. 



During the warm summer weather the (Joldfincli is very fond of bathing, 

 and the sandy shelving margins of In-ooks are alwaj's their favorite places 

 of resort for this purpose. I do not think they ever raise more than a single 

 brood in a season in Xew England, and are in this somewhat irregular, de- 

 positing their eggs from July 10 to September, as it may happen. 



They usually select a small upright tree, such as a young elm, api)le, or 

 pear, or a tall shrub, for their nest, which they rarely place higher than ten 



GO 



