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AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



Photo by C. A. Smith. 

 Young Goldfinches in Nest. 



years^ so I was anxious to see if the eggs looked as they used to. The nest 

 was about ten feet from the ground and the alder was very small in diameter, 

 woefully small when my weight was considered. By gathering together two 

 of the neighboring alders with the one containing the nest, I had a founda- 

 tion strong enough to enable me to slowly hitch my way up so that I could 

 peer over the edge of the nest and view the six pale bluish white eggs con- 

 tained therein. The nest was well made, but small even for a Goldfinch; 

 about three weeks later it was filled to overflowing with little birdies, packed 

 so tightly that one would hardly think they could breathe. 



Happiness personified is expressed in every action and note of the male 

 finches when their mates are sitting upon the nests. With the breaking of 



