184 TREATISE ON 



glass is placed before it, the reflection of its own 

 gay feathers seems greatly to delight it. 



The goldfinch is a long-lived bird. Willoughby 

 mentions one that lived twenty-thr^e years in a 

 state of confinement : But they sometimes turn 

 white with age, particularly the red and yeUow 

 parts of their plumage. 



In a wild state these birds assemble towards 

 autumn, and pillage gardens, &c. They fly in large 

 flocks. The flight of the goldfinch is low and 

 equal, not in jerks or bounds. Their natural food 

 is seeds of different kinds, such as thistle, teasle, 

 plantain, chickweed; also cherries, guignes, (or 

 mazzards,) pears, and apples; and they always have 

 the discrimination to choose the best fruit. Du- 

 ring winter they may be seen near high-roads, 

 brushing with their wings the snow off plants to 

 get at the seeds. It is doubted by some whether 

 they ever feed on insects, even the young ; but 

 we are rather inclined to think that the young 

 are fed with caterpillars, grubs, &c. which the 

 parent birds find amongst the blossoms of trees 

 where they build their nests. 



