THE GOLDFINCH. l49 



Diseases. — Epilepsy is one of the commonest disorders of this bird. If 

 the eyes are weak and swollen, anoint them with fresh butter. Stupor and 

 giddiness being very properly attributed to too great a use of hemp seed, it 

 is best to suppress it entirely, and supply its place with the seed of lettuce 

 and thistles. This latter is so beneficial, that it would be well to give them, 

 from time to time, a head to pluck the seeds for themselves. 



Old age makes them blind, and deprives them of their beautiful colours; 

 yet, notwithstanding all the evils ^^•ith which they are afflicted, in a cage a 

 goldfinch has been known to live sixteen years, and even twenty, or twenty- 

 four years. 



Mode of Taking In spring these birds are taken on a lure bush, with 



a decoy bird of their own species. They will also enter the area, or barn- 

 floor trap, with chaffinches, if bundles of thistles are placed there ; but it is 

 not without difficulty, for they are very watchful to avoid nets and lime- 

 twigs. In the v.'inter, by building up bundles of thistles, and placing snares 

 and traps on them, several may be caught ; but in autumn and spring 

 lime-twigs should be placed on them in preference. It is a still better 

 plan to place bundles of thistles in a tree stuck about with lime-twigs. The 

 goldfinch's call is " tziflit,^^ or '' sticlit,^^ which is its name in Bohemia. 



Attractive Qualities. — The goldfinch is a very beautiful, lively, 

 active bird, always in motion, and turning continually to the right and left. 

 Its agreeable song, which is only discontinued duiing moulting, is a mixture 

 of tones and harmonies, more or less dwelt upon, and the oftener the sound 

 "^«A;" is introduced the more it is admired amoiTjjst us. There are some 

 goldfinches that utter it only once or twice in their strains, whilst others 

 will repeat it four or five times following. This species learn with difficulty 

 to repeat airs from the flageolet, or other birds' songs, and in this respect 

 is inferior to canaries and linnets; but it is remarkable for its docility. 

 Goldfinches have been seen to let off a small cannon, and imitate death. 

 When properly instructed they will draw up their food and water. They 

 are taught this by means of a chain or pulley, furnished wtha soft leather 

 band, two lines wide, pierced with four holes, through which the wings and 

 feet are to be passed ; the two ends meeting under the belly, and are re- 

 tained there by a ring, to which is fastened the chain that supports the 

 bucket containing the water or food. Whenever the little waterman wants 

 either, he draws up the chain \\-ith his beak, fixing it at intervals with his 

 foot, and thus succeeds in obtaining what he wishes; but if his little buckets 

 are suspended to a pulley, raising one makes the other descend, and he can 

 only enjoy his food and water in turn. 



I have also seen goldfinches and siskins, placed in difl^erent cages, that 

 have little bells fixed to the seed drawer in such a way that the bird cannot 

 take its food without ringing them ; the bells being harmonised, tolerably 

 agreeable chimes are produced, but one is soon tired of such trifles. 



The goldfinch is taught to go and come at command, without any danger 

 of losing it, much sooner than the linnet, though the latter learns quite as 

 soon to build in the room. To accomplish this feat the winter should be 

 chosen, and the cage, containing a goldfinch that has not been rendered 

 tender by having been too long accustomed to the heat of the room, must 

 be placed on the outside of the window every day, or on a shelf intended 

 for it, and where the mice cannot reach it. Hemp seed must be scattered 



