218 GOLDFINCH. CHAFFINCH. 



early crops of rice. They then migrate to Carolina, and 

 shift their quarters according to the maturity of the crops 

 on which they feed. Their flesh is reckoned very deli- 

 cate ; nor is the song of the male contemptible. 



The bunting, the yellow-hammer, and many others, 

 belong to the same genus : but, in proportion as we ap- 

 proach the more diminutive tribes of animated nature, 

 the greater is the difficulty of enumerating all the species, 

 and the less interesting would it prove to the juvenile 

 class of readers, for whom this elementary treatise is 

 intended. 



THE GOLDFINCH. 



This beautiful little songster is too well known in this 

 country to require any description of its form or colours. 

 Its note, even in captivity, is uncommonly sweet ; nor is 

 the bird that utters it less estimable for its docility and the 

 cheerfulness or patience with which it submits to confine- 

 ment. 



Towards winter, goldfinches assemble in large flocks, 

 and feed on different kinds of seeds, particularly those of 

 thistles. They are fond of orchards ; in which they fre- 

 quently build their nests, and sometimes produce two 

 broods in the year. They live to a considerable age ; and 

 are natives of most parts of the Old Continent, but are 

 most numerous in Europe. 



THE CHAFFINCH. 



This bird has received its name from its partiality for 

 chaff as a food. It regales us very agreeably with its 

 song early in the year, but, towards the end of summer, 

 emits a chirping note. The chaffinch is stationary in 

 England ; but, in Sweden, the females migrate into 

 Holland about September, leaving their mates behind 

 them ; and the late ingenious Mr. White of Shelbourne, 

 observed large flocks in Hampshire, with few or no males 

 among them. This is a very singular fact in the eco- 



