Two Odd Characters of the Bird World 



By D. Lange. 



WE generally associate bird song and bird nesting with 

 May and June, and only a few people are aware that 

 even in this latitude the song of birds may be heard 

 during ten months of the year and eggs or young may be 

 found during eight months. 



Two birds, common in their respective regions, vary so 

 widely in their nesting habits from the established order of 

 the bird world, that they well deserve to be called odd char- 

 acters; they are the little goldfinch, common everywhere 

 the year round, and the Canada Jay of our northern ever- 

 green forests. 



The goldfinch reminds me of a boy who goes off to play 

 with his friends and forgets all about carrying in the wood 

 and doing other chores until it is almost too dark to see. 



In May and June, when other birds build nests and rear 

 families, the goldfiniches seem to think only of enjoying the 

 fine weather. The males show off in their golden plumage 

 with black tails and wings, and jaunty black caps. They 

 roam about in small flocks singing and feeding as they go 

 like troups of merry little bachelors who are enjoying the 

 fun of watching their married friends working hard for the 

 support of their families. I have seen as many as a dozen 

 of them displaying their striking gold and black plumage on 

 the sprigs of a dead willow. 



But as for entertaining serious thoughts of courting and 

 housekeeping, not they. 



It is not until July that they choose their mates and think 

 of the serious business of bird life; but many nests with eggs 

 or young may be found as late as September or even October. 



The nest is a pretty cup, generally lined with thistle 

 down. It may be in the fork of a tree or bush, but the favor- 



