192 HAPS IN THE FIELD 



plumage freaked with jet." No bird more 

 fully than this small fellow creature expresses 

 the joy of living. His flight, as he goes 

 bounding through the air uttering a glee- 

 some note with every wing-beat, is pure ec- 

 stasy. Often, when he has apparently no 

 desire to get anywhere, he will fling himself 

 upon the air with vehemence, make a wide 

 circle, and return to his perch, or bound 

 straight up ten feet or more, and then drop 

 back, pouring out his delicious notes, evi- 

 dently because he is so brimful of bliss, 



" Of the wild delight 



Of wings that uplift and winds that uphold him, 

 The joy of freedom, the rapture of flight." 



The wooing of this dainty little creature 

 is comically like human society manners on 

 similar occasions. There is a whirl of excite- 

 ment, everybody puts on his best airs, sings, if 

 he can sing, talks, if he can only talk. They 

 indulge in dances and plays, take excursions 

 together, and fill the air with noise and song, 

 a la young man and maiden. His wooing-song 

 is rapture itself. 



The goldfinch has a wonderful variety of 

 songs and calls, and with his mate an appar- 



