GOLDFINCH. 541 



which they forsook both the other, and finished their work 

 with this last article. The nest, when completed, was 

 somewhat larger than is usually made by this bird, but re- 

 tained the pretty roundness of figure and neatness of work- 

 manship which is proper to the Goldfinch. The nest was 

 completed in the space of three days, and remained unoc- 

 cupied for the space of four days, the first egg not being 

 laid till the seventh day from beginning the work." The 

 eggs are four or five in number, pale bluish white, with a 

 few spots and lines of pale purple and brown ; the length 

 eight lines and a half, the breadth six lines. 



The young birds are fed for a time with caterpillars, and 

 other insects, and when able to follow their parents, they 

 rove together in small flocks over commons, and other un- 

 cultivated lands to feed on the ripened seeds of the thistle, 

 burdock, or dandelion, with chickweed, groundsel, or plan- 

 tain. If watched while thus feeding, they may be seen 

 climbing and clinging in all directions and positions about 

 the stems, picking out their favourite portions. If ap- 

 proached too near, the little party, one by one, move off to 

 the next nearest patch, with undulating flight, twittering as 

 they rise 



" Each outstretched wing 

 A fairy fan, with golden sticks adorned," 



and thus roving in small flocks, through the autumn and 

 winter, living almost entirely on various seeds, particularly 

 those of the different species of thistle, they perform 

 good service to the agriculturist by consuming the prolific 

 source of many a noxious weed. 



The Goldfinch is found in numerous localities, both in 

 England and Wales ; it occurs, according to Mr. Thomp- 

 son, in certain parts of Ireland ; and as an inhabitant of 

 the south of Scotland, is mentioned by Sir Robert Sibbald, 

 Sir William Jardine, and Mr. Macgillivray. 



