292 Bird - Lore 



which are so much like the American Goldfinch that it may be said Gold- 

 finches are found in a large part of North America. 



Goldfinches are very cleanly in their habits and indulge in frequent baths ; 

 indeed, the border of a shallow pool is an excellent place to study this species, 

 as it is not an uncommon sight to see a number of the brightly colored 

 males gathered there. During the breeding season the parent birds seem to 

 have a well-defined route from the nest to a common watering place. 



The nesting site may be in an evergreen or deciduous bush or tree, and 

 the nest may be built only a few feet from the ground or at considerable 

 height, where it is saddled on or attached to a forked twig. The nest itself 

 is an exquisite piece of bird architecture, compactly built of dried grasses, 

 leaves and shreds of bark, the outside being embellished with lichens, which 

 Audubon says are attached by saliva. The inside of the nest is lined with 

 the softest plant-down. The mother-bird is the builder of this tasteful home, 

 her handsome consort, during the nest-building time, devoting most of his 

 efiEorts to singing to cheer his industrious mate. After the four to six bluish 

 white eggs have been laid the singing partner has more work to do, for he 

 has to feed his brooding wife. His frequent visits are always announced 

 with a sweet conversational song, which he seems able to give even though 

 his bill is filled with seeds. 



These leaflets are published to induce the boys and girls of the country 

 to keep their eyes wide open and see things out of doors. One of the things 

 we want to know about the Goldfinch is why he begins to nest so late in 

 the season, often long after most birds are through with domestic duties for 

 the year. August is the time he chooses. Surely it seems a strange month 

 for nest -building and the care of young. Does he select it because before that 

 date nature has not provided food suited to the needs of the young Gold- 

 finches? 



The Goldfinch belongs to the thick-billed, seed -eating class of birds and 

 is extremely fond of the seeds of thistles, a most noxious weed. Does he 

 postpone housekeeping until the thistle seeds are ripe enough to eat? 



The agriculturist should be interested in this bird. Every thistle along 

 the highway is a prolific source of future trouble, but when you see it orna- 

 mented with an animated bit of gold and black, you may know that Nature 

 is interposing one of her potent checks to the too rapid increase of weed 

 pests. Ever}' Goldfinch saves the farmer much hard work by destroying weed 

 seeds, which form the bulk of its food supply, although during the breeding 

 season it gives its young considerable animal food, consisting of insects of 

 various kinds. 



Questions for Teachers and Students 



What is the local name of the Goldfinch in your locality ? Describe the plumage worn 

 by the male bird in summer, also at other seasons; how do the plumages of the male and 



