836 The Sparrow-like Birds 



brings them a change of fare, and in pursuit of fresh dainties the nesting time is 

 delayed almost until summer begins to wane. Seed-bearing plants, whether in 

 field or garden, form their larder; the old sunflowers rattle before their vigorous 

 attack; the thistles spring into sudden blossoms of black and gold as they swing 

 from the nodding heads." The nest, placed in forking branches often of shade 

 trees about houses, is a dainty structure of fine grasses, strips of bark, and moss, 

 lined with thistle-down. The three to six eggs are plain bluish white. A con- 

 siderable number of subspecies and closely related species carry the Goldfinches 

 throughout the Western States and southward through Mexico and Yucatan to 

 Patagonia. 



Canary. At this point mention should be made of the Old World genus 

 Serinus, which includes among others that most widely known and highly prized 

 of all singing cage birds, the Canary (5. canarius). It is a native of the Canaries, 

 Azores, and Madeira, and was introduced as a cage bird into Europe early in the 

 sixteenth century. In its wild state the Canary is olive- or apple-green above with 

 head and rump finely striped with blackish brown, and golden yellow below 

 fading to whitish on the lower abdomen, the flanks being striped with brownish. 

 It associates in flocks and frequents wooded districts, especially pine woods, 

 vineyards, and gardens, and thus moving from tree to tree, which it does at no 

 great altitude, it has the undulating flight of the Linnet. It is a resident species, 

 though changing from higher altitudes, where it passes the summer, to lower 

 points near the coast during winter. Nidification is begun usually in March 

 near the coast, and the three or four successive broods are reared at higher 

 and higher altitudes until the last of July or August finds them in the high moun- 

 tains. The nest, a neatly constructed affair of dry grasses, plant down, and 

 moss, is placed in careful concealment in a shrub or low tree, often an ever- 

 green, and at a usual height of eight or ten feet from the ground. The four or 

 five eggs are pale green or pale blue spotted and marked with recldish brown. 

 Its food in the wild state consists of seeds of various plants, tender shoots, and 

 fruit, particularly figs. The song is similar to that of its caged descendants, 

 and while sweet and powerful is scarcely so rich. 



Apparently from the first the Canary has taken kindly to captivity and has 

 become an ideal cage bird, breeding readily, often to the number of four or 

 five broods in a year, and is thoroughly reconciled to its cage life. By careful 

 selection and breeding both form and color have been much modified and the 

 voice cultivated to a high degree. The rearing and training of Canaries affords 

 occupation to many people, especially in the Tyrol. 



Closely related to the Canary is the Serin Finch (S. hortulanus} of central 

 and southern Europe, which winters and is to some extent a resident in North 

 Africa, Palestine, and Asia Minor. It is slightly smaller than the wild Canary 

 and much more brightly colored, and like it goes about in flocks, being found 

 particularly at the foot of the mountains skirting the plains, orchards, vine- 

 yards, and gardens. Its call note resembles that of the Canary, and the song 

 is clear and pleasing though not of so high an order of merit. 



Purple or House Finches. Related to the last but very different in ap- 



