GOLDFINCH. 541 
which they forsook both the other, and finished their work 
with this last article. The nest, when completed, was 
somewhat larger than is usually made by this bird, but re- 
tained the pretty roundness of figure and neatness of work- 
manship which is proper to the Goldfinch. The nest was 
completed in the space of three days, and remained unoc- 
eupied for the space of four days, the first egg not being 
laid till the seventh day from beginning the work.” The 
eggs are four or five in number, pale bluish white, with a 
few spots and lines of pale purple and brown; the length 
eight lines and a half, the breadth six lines. 
The young birds are fed for a time with caterpillars, and 
other insects, and when able to follow their parents, they 
rove together in small flocks over commons, and other un- 
cultivated lands to feed on the ripened seeds of the thistle, 
burdock, or dandelion, with chickweed, groundsel, or plan- 
tain. If watched while thus feeding, they may be seen 
climbing and clinging in all directions and _ positions about 
the stems, picking out their favourite portions. If ap- 
proached too near, the little party, one by one, move off to 
the next nearest patch, with undulating flight, bubeioens as 
they rise— 
“ Hach outstretched wing 
A fairy fan, with golden sticks adorned,” 
and thus roving in small flocks, through the autumn and 
winter, living almost entirely on various seeds, particularly 
those of the different species of thistle, they perform 
good service to the agriculturist by consuming the polite 
source of many a noxious weed. 
The Goldfinch is found in numerous localities, both in 
England and Wales; it occurs, according to Mr. Thomp- 
son, in certain parts of Ireland; and as an inhabitant of 
the south of Scotland, is mentioned by Sir Robert Sibbald, 
Sir William Jardine, and Mr. Macgillivray. 
