KIllXCILLID.E — THE FIN'dlES. 473 



Monnttains, where its nest tiiul ej^'us were obtained. The nests procured by 

 Mr. liid<;way were all lonnd alxmL June (i, e.xeejit one, ten days later, .show- 

 ing that these birds are four or five weeks earlier in tlieir breeding on the 

 Pacitic than on the Atlantie coast. In the Uintah Mountains they were 

 breeding, as at tiie Kast, in duly. 



The tJoldllnch is to a large extent gregarious and noniadii; in its habits, 

 and only Ibr a short ]K)rtion of the yc^ar do these Inrds separate into }iairs I'or 

 the purp(jses of reproduction. During at least three iburths of the yeai' they 

 associate in small tlocks, and wander about in an irregular and uncertain 

 manner in (juest of their food. They are resident througiiont l\\v year in 

 New England, and also throughout the greater portion of the country, their 

 presence or absence being regulated to a hirge e.xtent liy the abundance, 

 scarcity, or ab.sence of their favorite kinds of food. In the winter, the seeds 

 of the taller weeds are their principal means of subsistence. In tlie sum- 

 mer, the seeds of the thistle and other plants and weeds are sought out 

 by these interesting and busy gleaners. They are abundant in gardens, and 

 as a general thing do xuvy little harm, and a vast amount of benefit in the 

 destruction of the seeds of troublesome weeds. As, however, they do not 

 always discriminate between seeds that are troublesome and those that are 

 desirable, the (loldtinches are unwelcome visitors to the farmers who seek to 

 raise their own seeds of the lettuce, tiirnij), and oilier similar vegetables. 

 They are also very fond of the seeds of the sunllower. 



Owing possibly to the scarcity of proper food for their young in the early 

 summer, the Ooldfinclies are ([uite late before they mate and raise their single 

 brood. It is usually jiasl the lUtli of July l)efore their nests are constructed, 

 and often Sejjtember before their broods are ready to Hy. 



The song of the Goldfinch — very different from their usual plaintive cry 

 or call-note, uttered as they are flying or when they are feeding — is very 

 sweet, brilliant, and pleasing; most so, indeed, when given as a solo, with no 

 other of its kindred within hearing. 1 know of none of our connnon singers 

 that excel it in either res))ect. Its notes are higher and more ilute-like, and 

 its song is more jtrolonged than that of the rurjjle Finch. AVhere large 

 flocks are found in the spring or early summer, the males often Join in a very 

 curious and remarkable concert, in which the voices of the several jjcrformers 

 do not always accord. In spite of (his fretjuent want of harmony, these con- 

 certs are varied and jjleasing, now ringing like the loud voices of the Canary, 

 and now sinking into a low soft warble. 



During the warm summer weather the (lohlHnch is very fond of bathing, 

 and the sandy shelving margins of brooks are always their favorite places 

 of resort for this purpose. I do not think they ever raise more than a single 

 brood in a season in New England, and are in this somewhat irregular, de- 

 positing their eggs from July 10 to September, as it may happen. 



They usually select a small upright tree, such as a young elm, ap])le, or 

 pear, or a tall shrub, for their nest, which they rarely place higher than ten 



