YELLOW -BIRD. 



77 



finches. He seems near enough like the sparrows 

 too, when you think how unlike he is to the black- 

 birds and orioles of No. 3, or the swallows of No. 

 6, the catbird of No. 10, and the robin or blue- 

 bird of No. 14. 



Even the chickadee from No. 12 is a strong 

 contrast to him. His slender frame fits him for 



flying through the air, while the chickadee's 

 plump, fluffy figure is suited to flitting about tree- 

 trunks and branches. Early in the spring the 

 chickadee goes to the woods, and, using his pointed 

 bill as a pick-axe, picks out a nest hole in the side 

 of a stump or tree trunk. But the goldfinch 

 waits until July, and then, going to the nearest 

 orchard, chooses a plum or apple-tree crotch and 

 sets about making a basket to fit it. He peels 



