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THE AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. 



Fringilla tristis, Linn. 



PLATE XXXIII. Male and Female. 



This species merely passes over the State of Louisiana in the begin- 

 ning of January, and at that season is seen there for only a few days, 

 alighting on the highest tops of trees near water-courses, in small groups 

 of eight or ten, males and females together. They feed at that period on 

 the opening buds of Maples, and others that are equally tender and juicy. 

 In the month of November they are again seen moving southwards, and 

 for a few days only. 



A few breed in Kentucky and the State of Ohio, but the Middle Dis- 

 tricts are their principal places of resort during summer, although they 

 extend their migrations to a high latitude. They arrive in the State of 

 New York about the middle of April ; and as they become very abun- 

 dant in that State during the summer, I shall describe their habits as ob- 

 served there. 



The flight of the American Goldfinch is exactly similar to that of the 

 European Bird of the same name, being performed in deep curved lines, al- 

 ternately rising and falling, after each propeUing motion of the wings. It 

 scarcely ever describes one of these curves without uttering two or three 

 notes whilst ascending, such as its European relative uses on similar occa- 

 sions. In this manner, its flight is prolonged to considerable distances, 

 and it frequently moves in a circling direction before alighting. Their 

 migration is performed during the day. They seldom alight on the 

 ground, unless to procure water, in which they wash with great liveli- 

 ness and pleasure, after which they pick vip some particles of gravel or 

 sand. So fond of each other's company are they, that a party of them 

 passing on the wing will alter its course at the calling of a single one 

 perched on a tree. This call is uttered with much emphasis : the bird 

 prolongs its usual note, without much alteration, and as the party ap- 

 proaches, erects its body, and moves it to the right and left, as if turning 

 on a pivot, apparently pleased at shewing the beauty of its plumage and 

 the elegance of its manners. No sooner has the flock, previously on 

 wing, alighted, than the whole party plume themselves, and then perform 



