AMERICAN GOLDFINCH 275 



with the looser or less tenacious thistle-down. This nest 

 shows a good deal of art. 



Aug. 11, 1858. Heard a fine, sprightly, richly war- 

 bled strain from a bird perched on the top of a bean- 

 pole. It was at the same time novel yet familiar to me. 

 I soon recognized it for the strain of the purple finch, 

 which I have not heard lately. But though it appeared 

 as large, it seemed a different-colored bird. With my 

 glass, four rods off, I saw it to be a goldfinch. It kept 

 repeating this warble of the purple finch for several 

 minutes. A very surprising note to be heard now, when 

 birds generally are so silent. Have not heard the purple 

 finch of late. I conclude that the goldfinch is a very 

 fine and powerful singer, and the most successful and 

 remarkable mocking-bird that we have. In the spring I 

 heard it imitate the thrasher exactly, before that bird had 

 arrived, and now it imitates the purple finch as perfectly, 

 after the latter bird has ceased to sing ! It is a surprising 

 vocalist. It did not cease singing till I disturbed it by 

 my nearer approach, and then it went off with its usual 

 mew, succeeded by its watery twitter in its ricochet flight. 



Aug. 14, 1858. The Canada thistle down is now 

 begun to fly, and I see the goldfinch upon it. Cardu- 

 elis. 1 Often when I watch one go off, he flies at first one 

 way, rising and falling, as if skimming close over un- 

 seen billows, but directly makes a great circuit as if he 

 had changed his mind, and disappears in the opposite 

 direction, or is seen to be joined there by his mate. 



Bee. 22, 1858. P. M. — To Walden. 



1 [Nuttall placed the American goldfinch with the Europeau bird in 

 the subgenus Cardtielis, from carduus, thistle.] 



