174 AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. 



even Lake Superior, I have always seen many of them in the latter part 

 of summer. They have then a decided preference for the vicinity of water. 



It is an extremely hardy bird, and often remains the whole winter in 

 the Middle Districts, although never in great numbers. When deprived 

 of liberty, it will live to a great age in a room or cage. I have known 

 -two instances in which a bird of this species had been confined for up- 

 wards of ten years. They were procured in the market of New York 

 when in mature plumage, and had been caught in trap-cages. One of 

 them having undergone the severe training, more frequently inflicted in 

 Europe than America, and known in France by the name of gaUrien, 

 would draw water for its drink from a glass, it having a little chain 

 attached to a narrow belt of soft leather fastened round its body, and an- 

 other equally light chain fastened to a little bucket, kept by its weight in 

 the water, until the little fellow raised it up with its bill, placed a foot 

 upon it, and pulled again at the chain until it reached the desired fluid 

 and drank, when, on letting go, the bucket immediately fell into the glass 

 below. In the same manner, it was obliged to draw towards its bill a lit- 

 tle chariot filled with seeds ; and in this distressing occupation was doom- 

 ed to toil through a life of solitary grief, separated from its companions, 

 wantoning on the wildflowers, and procuring their food in the manner in 

 which nature had taught them. After being caught in trap-cages, they 

 feed as if quite contented ; but if it has been in spring that they have 

 lost their liberty, and they have thus been deprived of the pleasures anti- 

 cipated from the previous connexion of a mate, they linger for a few days 

 and die. It is more difficult to procure a mule brood between our species 

 and the Canary, than between the latter and the European Goldfinch, al- 

 though I have known many instances in which the attempt was made 

 with complete success. 



The young males do not appear in full plumage until the following 

 spring. The old ones lose their beauty in winter, and assume the duUer 

 tints of the female. In fact, at that season, young and old of both sexes 

 resemble each other. 



;, There is a trait of sagacity in this bird and the Purple Finch {Frin- 

 gilla purpurea), which is quite remarkable, and worthy of the notice of 

 such naturalists as are fond of contrasting instinct with reason. When a 

 Goldfinch alights on a twig imbued with bird-lime expressly for the pur- 

 pose of securing it, it no sooner discovers the nature of the treacherous 

 substance, than it throws itself backwards, with closed wings, and hangs 



