192 THE GOLDFINCH. 



our gardens, orchards, or plantations, may be found tlie 

 ingenious little nest of the graceful Goldfinch; a pretty 

 *' home," meet for so buoyant and elegant a tenant ; elabor- 

 ;;// f ^y^ ately composed of twigs 

 and threads and fibres, 

 of grass and moss and 

 lichens, all fitted to- 

 o^"S^ gether with much dex- 

 ^ ^ terity, and lined with 

 ' " 1 thistle-down, cotton, or 

 other vegetable sub- 

 j3-*,\^ >-v '" ' stances of equal soft- 

 GOLDFiNCHEs A>JD NEST. ncss. Its extorior is 



singularly smooth and neat, not a spray of moss or lichen 

 being allowed to project. The nest, and the localities in 

 which it is usually placed, are well described by a Scotch 

 poet, not so well known as the fidelity and beauty of his 

 nature-pictures merit : — 



" The goldfinch weaves, ^vith willow-down inlaid, 

 And canach tufts, his wonderful abode. 

 Sometimes suspended at the limber end 

 Of plane-tree spray, among the broad-leaved shoots, 

 The tiny hammock swings to every gale ; 

 Sometimes in closest thickets 'tis concealed ; 

 Sometimes in hedge luxuriant, where the brier. 

 The bramble, and the budding plum-tree branch, 

 Warp through the thorn, surmounted by the flowers 

 Of clinging vetch, and honeysuckle wild. 

 All undefaced by art's transforming hand. 

 But mark the pretty bird himself ; how light 

 And quick his every motion, every note ! 

 How beautiful his phmies ! " 



It is very pleasant to see a flight of goldfinches disport- 

 ing themselves in the yellow fields; foraging among the 



