160 Mr. Peabody on the 
marshes which are above the flow of the tides. 'The 
nest is of grass; the eggs are dusky white, speckled 
with brown. 
The American Gotprincu, Fringilla tristis, well 
known by its beautiful yellow plumage and jet black 
wings, can hardly be said to return in the spring, 
since many of them do not leave us in winter, though, 
as they roam about in their dusky dresses, with their 
complaining note, there is little about them to re- 
mind us of the gay musicians of the spring. They 
are often seen when the ground is covered, gath- 
ering a living from the tall stalks of weeds that rise 
above the snow. For some time they will be miss- 
ing, and then they rove about without any fixed 
direction, and apparently never much troubled by 
the want of food. When the warm gales begin t0 
blow, the males resume their colored dress, the fe- 
males among birds not being permitted to share that- 
fatal gift of beauty, that might attract attention to , 
their nest. 'The social habits of these pretty birds 
give double interest to their song, since all join in 
harmony, sometimes plaintive and low, then gay and 
loud, as they enjoy the sunshine together. They 
are fond of bathing and pluming themselves in com- 
pany ; in fact, they always associate together on the. 
most friendly terms. In our gardens they collect the 
seeds of lettuce, but thistle down is their favorite 
food, and they cannot be justly charged with doing 
any injury whatever. 
They make use of thistle down, with other soft 
and delicate substances, to build their nests. They 
EU A 
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