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supplied, with plenty of green food, such as flowering groundsel,

chickweed, etc.


Having had but a limited experience of this beautiful

species, the writer may perhaps be forgiven for quoting some¬

what fully from Mr. Henry Nearling’s delightful book on

American birds, entitled “ Our Native Birds of Song and

Beauty.” Such a charming account of this species is therein

given that it cannot fail to interest our members. He writes—

“In the merry month of June we hear from early dawn till the

evening falls a chorus of beautiful singing birds. The Oriole in

the elm, the Song-sparrow in the rose-bushes, the Catbird in the

honeysuckle, the Summer Warbler in the mock orange, the

Rose-breasted Grosbeak in the trees of the woodland border,

the Veery in the mossy swamp, the Bobolink in the flower-

adorned meadow, the Red-wing in the reeds, the Martin in the

air—all sing in jubilant notes their hymns of joy and happiness.

Not earlier than the latter part of the month our lovely little

Goldfinch begins to join the chorus, and by July first all the

males are in full song. Their brilliant, melodious, and liquid

strains are now heard from all sides. Almost all other birds are

now busily engaged in feeding their young, finding rarely time

for singing, except in the dusk of the evening.


“ The Goldfinch, which is also known by the names of Wild

Canary, Thistle-bird, Yellow-bird, and Lettuce-bird (a), is one

of our most familiar species, being especially abundant in settled

localities. Its colours are gay, its song sweet and varied, its

ways and manners agreeable, innocent, and enjoyable, and its

nesting-habits and its family-life highly interesting. It is,

therefore, quite worthy of the love and favour with which it

is regarded by all who love nature.”


Farther on, the same writer observes, “ In Wisconsin, I

have rarely met with the first arrivals from the South before

May 15th, and sometimes I have not seen them before May 25th.

They usually make their appearance in large scattered flocks,

which remain together until the breeding-season arrives, when

they separate into pairs—this is about the middle of June.”


It is interesting to read an American writer’s opinion of

the species as a cage-bird ; he says, “As soon as the young are

able to leave the nest, they are placed in a cage, and the old

birds feed them until they are able to provide for themselves.

Then they are taken into the house and fed like Canaries—with



(a) It is, however, a true Siskin, and the name by which it is known in England,

and which has been chosen for the heading of this paper, is the most appropriate.—D.S.-S.



