168 AMERIOAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



to get out of the cage and constantly repeating a little "Wick-wick-er-wick!" 

 We did not dare let it go while the weather was so cold, so we left it in the 

 cage and gave it some sunflower, catnip, mustard and other seeds to eat. We 

 thought that if it would eat at all, it would probably eat the sunflower seeds, 

 as Goldfinches are so fond of them in the fall. But I did not see it eat a 

 single one, although it did eat other seeds. 



It did not act at all like one would expect a wild bird to. At first, in the 

 morning, it kept trying to get out, but later on, nearly every time we were 

 near, it would stop trying to escape and would peck at the seeds instead. It 

 seemed to really like to have us near it. As the day went by it gradually 

 grew quieter and spent more of the time eating. It acted real hungry. It 

 was very fond of the mustard seeds and in the afternoon would eat them from 

 our fingers. As soon as we would hold the seed down to the cage it would 

 come up and put its bill up and take the seed, just like a young bird takes 

 food from its parent's bill. 



During the daj we placed a small dish of water in the cage. At first the 

 Goldfinch did not drink any, but later on it grew thirsty and did drink, and 

 then if a little bird ever had a sweet expression in its eyes that one had. 

 It put its bill down to the water, took a sip, and then, the same as birds usual- 

 ly do, raised its bill and eyes Heavenward, and its eyes were fairly filled 

 with love. After an instant it put its head down again, took another sip and 

 continued as before. , 



By afternoon it seemed to be quite contented, so we thought that perhaps 

 we would be able to keep it until spring and then let it go. We knew it would 

 have to be allowed to fly some or its wings would grow weak, so toward night 

 we opened the door of the cage to let it out in the room. We waited until 

 late in the day so that, in case the Goldfinch should be so wild that we could 

 not easily catch it again, darkness would soon set in and the bird would 

 go to sleep, so that then we would be able to catch it. 



It did not come out when we opened the door, so we took off the top of the 

 cage. It came out then, but the poor thing was so weak it could fly no better 

 than a young bird just learning to use its wings. Instead of being afraid, it 

 flew to us and tried to cling to our dresses. When we picked it up and held 

 it to our neck it would cuddle up sleepily against us. 



We tried a few times to have it fly, but it was so weak we finally gave 

 it up. When we went to look at it the next morning the poor thing lay dead 

 in the bottom of the cage. I guess the cold weather had been too much for 

 it. I buried it with a Downy "Woodpecker, which one of my sisters found 

 one night lying dead on the ground. 



Last May we had another visitor and I am glad to say this one's visit end- 

 ed in a happier way. We found it in a very strange place. 



