BRITISH SONG-BIRDS. 181 



« Hid among the op'ning flowers 

 Of the sweetest vernal bowers, 

 Passing there the anxious hours 

 In her little mossy dome, 



Sits thy mate, whilst thou art singing. 

 Or across the lawn seen winging, 

 Or upon a thistle swinging, 

 Gleaning for thy happy home." 



Anonymous, 



THE GOLDFINCH, 



thistle-finch, or goudspink. 



fringilla cardualis ; linn^us. ^le chardon- 



neret; buffon. 



This beautiful and delightful warbler, in its 

 disposition, possesses many of those qualities that 

 even in man would be thought agreeable. It is 

 amiable in its affections, mild, docile, cheerful. 



