252 CLASS AVES. 



the territories of the Luxembourg, and in the forests of 

 Northland. Its nest is situated pretty high on those fir-trees 

 which have most branches. It begins to work on this nest 

 about the end of April, constructs it externally with the long 

 moss of these trees, and furnishes it wthin with horse-hair, 

 wool, and feathers. It lays four or five eggs. It is probable, 

 from their great number, that these birds have several broods 

 in the year. 



We now pass on to the Linnets and Gold-Finches. 



The GoLD-FiNCH (Fringilla Carduclis) is one the best 

 known, and most beautiful of our native birds. To a graceful, 

 well-turned form, and a brilliant plumage, it unites dexterity, 

 docility, and a pleasing song. Such is the harmonious mix- 

 ture of its colours, that, though so common, it never ceases 

 to delight the eye. Nothing, in fact, is wanting to this 

 charming bird, but to be the native of a foreign country, to 

 render it an object of the greatest research and admiration. 



From the earliest days of spring, the enchanting voice of 

 the male begins to be heard ; but it is in the month of May 

 that it puts forth its sweetest strains. Perched on a tree of 

 moderate height, particularly on a fruit-tree, of which these 

 birds are very fond, it makes the orchard echo with its song, 

 from the point of day to the setting of the sun. It continues 

 thus until the month of August, with the interruption, how- 

 ever, occasioned by the care of its young : for such is its 

 attachment, that at this period all its moments are absorbed 

 by its paternal duties. It feeds the young with tender seeds, 

 such as those of groundsel, lettuce, and other plants. It is 

 said, that it also gives them caterpillars, small scaraboei, and 

 other insects ; but it appears more probable that the gold- 

 finches are simply granivorous, like the linnet, the canary, &c. 

 It is on this account that they nestle later than the sparrows, 

 the buntings, and the chaffinches, which rear their young on 



