1 54 PASSERES. FRINGILL AD^E. 



pany. A seventh turned a sort of windmill ; and 

 an eighth stood in the midst of some fireworks 

 which were discharged all round it, without ex- 

 hibiting the least symptoms of terror.* 



The attachment which the Goldfinch often dis- 

 plays towards its master or mistress, is another 

 pleasing trait in its character. Instances of its 

 recognition of persons, with confiding familiarity 

 towards them, are sufficiently common. The fol- 

 lowing example is given by the translator of the 

 English edition of Bechstein's Cage-Birds : 

 " Madame had a Goldfinch that never saw her 

 go out without making every effort in his power 

 to quit his cage and follow her, and welcomed 

 her return with every mark of extreme delight ; 

 as soon as she approached, a thousand little ac- 

 tions shewed his pleasure and satisfaction ; if she 

 presented her finger, he caressed it a long time, 

 uttering a low joyous murmur. This attachment 

 was so exclusive, that if his mistress, to prove it, 

 substituted another person's finger for her own, 

 he would peck it sharply, while one of his mis- 

 tress's placed between two of this person's, would 

 be immediately distinguished and caressed ac- 

 cordingly." 



The song of the Goldfinch is cheerful and 

 pleasing, though it lacks the depth of tone, and 

 rich variety of modulation, which marks that of 

 some of the Thrushes and Warblers. " It is a 

 mixture of tones and harmonies," says Bechstein, 

 "more or less dwelt upon, and the oftener the 

 sound jink is introduced, the more it is admired 

 amongst us. There are some Goldfinches that 

 utter it only once or twice in their strains, while 



* Syme's Brit. Song-birds. 



