A BEWITCHING BEAUTY. 185 



and rushed and bounded over the rocks of the 

 canon, now run tamely down between rows of 

 turnips and potatoes, water an alfalfa field, 

 bathe the roots of a row of tired-looking trees, 

 or put a lawn a-soak. The fragment that is 

 left winds on its old way, not half filling its 

 bed, with a subdued babble, suited to its altered 

 fortunes. 



Still there is enough to delight a brook-lover, 

 and this spot is the chosen home of the most 

 bewitching little beauty in all Colorado, the 

 Arkansas goldfinch. Clumsy name enough for 

 a tiny sprite of a birdling, not so large as our 

 charming little goldfinch in his black cap. He 

 is exquisite in olive green, with golden yellow 

 breast, and the black cap and wings of his 

 family, and he is most winsome in manner, with 

 every tone in his varied utterances musical and 

 delicious to hear. As he flies over in bounding 

 waves, calling " Swe-eet ! swe-eet ! " often end- 

 ing with an entrancing tremolo, your very soul 

 is taken captive. What would you not give to 

 see the dainty cradle of his younglings ! Not 

 far away you may see two thistle-blooms pulled 

 to pieces ; no doubt the down has gone to make 

 a bed for goldfinch babies, for nothing that 

 grows, except thistledown, is quite soft and 

 delicate enough for the purpose. 



We will not try to find the nest. He is the 



