274 HISTORY OF 



nightingale ; and the linnet and bull-finch may be taught, for- 

 getting the wild notes of nature, to whistle a long and regular 

 tune.* 



* The Goldfinch is one of the best known, and most beautiful of our 

 native birds. From tlie earliest days of spring-, the enchanting voice of the 

 male begins to be heard ; but it is in the month of May that it puts forth its 

 sweetest strains. Perched on a tree of moderate height, particularly on a 

 fruit-tree, of which these birds are very fond, it makes the orchard echo 

 with its song, from the point of day to the setting of tlie sun. It continues 

 thus until the month of August, with the interruption, however, occasioned 

 by the care of its young : for such is its attachment, that at this period all 

 •ts moments are absorbed by its paternal duties. It feeds the young with 

 tender seeds, such as those of groundsel, lettuce, and other plants. It is 

 aaid, that it also gives them caterpillars, small scarabaei, and other insects ; 

 but it appears more probable that the goldfinches are simply granivorous, 

 like the linnet, the canary, &c. It is on this account that they nestle later 

 than the sparrows, the buntings, and the chaffinches, whii h rear theii- 

 joung on insects, and do not disgorge the food for them. The goldfinch, 

 when its young are more advanced in age, gives to them grains more dMfi. 

 cult of digestion, b\it never without softening them in its crop, anddisgorg. 

 ing them like the canaries. It is so much attached to its progeny, that if 

 shut up with them in a cage, it ^viU continue to take care of them at the 

 very epoch when liberty is so dear to other birds, that few of them survive 

 its loss. But to manage this properly with the gold-finch, it must receive 

 abundance of groundsel, &c., and particularly the seed of the tliistle, which 

 is its favourite food, and from which its French name {Chardonneret) is de- 

 rived. It is also sometimes called, in our language, the Thistle-finch. The 

 fowlers, accordingly, who lay various snares for these birds, make use of 

 thistle-seed as their bait. 



Though the goldfinches do not construct their nests until the middle of 

 spring, they have yet tliree broods, the last of wliich takes place in August. 

 The young cannot suffice for themselves for some time, even after quitting 

 the nest ; accordingly there is much patience requisite to rear them arti- 

 ficially. The best are said to be those which are born in thorny bushes, and 

 belong to the last brood. They are, it is said, more gay, and sing better 

 than the others. .^ 



The goldfinch is very easily reconciled to captivity, and even becomes 

 quite familiar. From its activity and docility it may be taught a wonderful 

 degree of precision in its movements ; it will counterfeit death, and per. 

 form a great variety of other movements with the greatest dexterity ; it 

 can be taught to fire a cracker, and draw up small cups, containing its food 

 and drink. Some years ago, the Sieur Roman exhibited in this country 

 . the wonderful performances of his birds. These were goldfinches, linnets, 

 and canary birds. One appeared dead, and was held up by the tail, or 

 claw, without exliibiting any signs of life. A second stood on its head, 

 with its claws in the air. A third imitated a Dutch milkmaid going to 

 market, with pails on its shoulders. A fourth mimicked a Venetian girl, 

 looking out at a window. A fifth appeared as a soldier, and mounted 

 guard as a sentinel. The sixth was a canuonier, ^vitli a cap on its head, a 



