68 BIRDS OF THE WEST 



dipping and rising and chirping a succession of sweet little notes 

 all tuned to your ear and to your heart. 



They brood in August. Why? Because the prickly weeds 

 don't have their seeds ready for the goldfinch babies until then. 

 And they must feed them on thistle seeds and they must line 

 their little nests with thistle down, the very soul and spirit of 

 the flowers. 



