122 THE GOLDFINCH. 



ORDER PASSERES. 



The Goldfinch. 

 ,# Fringilla carduelis. 



THIS is one of the most elegant of our English 

 birds; graceful in form, and arrayed in much 

 more brilliant colours than the birds of this cli- 

 mate usually exhibit. It has also a sweet and 

 cheerful song, which is heard from the earliest 

 days of spring; but it is in the month of May that 

 it gives us its sweetest and fullest strains : perched 

 on a tree it will pour forth its notes from early 

 morning till set of sun, and make the orchard re- 

 sound with its music. It continues to sing till 

 the month of August, except during the period 

 at which it is rearing its young; then all its 

 time and attention are devoted to parental duties. 

 The male bird, though very attentive to his pretty 

 mate, does not assist her in building the nest; 

 but he is constantly watching over her, either 

 close by her side, or perched on the nearest tree ; 

 and this he does, both when she is seeking her 

 food, and while engaged in preparing the abode 



