Goldfinch. Wild Canary. Thistle-Bird 



These birds do not shed their feathers in the spring, 

 as careless observers are apt to think they do, but merely 

 shed the outer webs of their feathers and quills, which 

 peel off like a glove from the hand. 



BURROUGHS. Riverby. 11 



A sweet-voiced goldfinch singing his soul away. 



OLIVE THORNE MILLER. 



The goldfinch round the linden winds his song. 



LUCY LARCOM. 



GROSBEAK, PINE 



At irregular intervals pine grosbeaks become abundant 

 during the winter in New England, when, because of their 

 size, they attract general attention. They usually resort 

 to coniferous trees upon the seeds of which they feed, 

 but they also eat berries and buds, and are said to be 

 especially fond of the fruit of the staghorn sumach. 



CHAPMAN. Bird Life. 22 



The sight of a flock of these handsome, rosy-coated 

 birds clustering around the cones of an evergreen is a 

 picture to brighten many a dull day. ..... They 



are gentle birds, whose knowledge of man is so limited 

 that they have no fear of him, and will often let them- 

 selves be taken in the hand. 



FLORENCE A. MERRIAM. Birds of Village and Field. 1 



72 



