178 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 
broken up, but at all seasons of the year the so-called ‘“‘ Yellow 
Birds” show a social spirit, whence, even in summer, two or 
three often enjoy one another’s society and fly about together. 
The following observations on their habits in summer were 
made among the White Mountains, where, in certain districts, 
they were very numerous. The Goldfinches there inhabited 
the pasture-land, in which they often built their nests, over 
which they wandered, and from which chiefly they obtained their 
food. There were in the place but few trees on the roadsides, 
except such as formed the part of some wood (and in woods 
these birds never build their nests), but the large bushes, 
which in many places supplied this want, answered the Gold- 
finches’ purpose as well. On these bushes, or the telegraph- 
wires and posts, males and females, or when the latter were 
on their nests, a solitary male or several often perched. They 
occasionally alighted in the road to pick up food, but not very 
commonly. The daintiness and evident enjoyment of their bath 
was very charming. They usually waded into a gently flowing 
brook, which rolled over clean sand, and then showered them- 
selves with the water tossed up by the splashing of their wings, 
bobbed their heads into the clear stream, next dressed their 
feathers, and finally flew away, twittering expressions of their 
pleasure. In the early part of the summer they often appeared 
in the gardens and fruit-trees of the village, but in September 
congregated where thistles were abundant. On the heads of 
these weeds they perched, until the stalks swayed to the 
ground ; and, when this brief ride was finished, they bent over to 
feed upon the seeds. In the same way do they often treat the 
garden-iris in summer, when the rich blue or purple of that 
flower forms a most gorgeous contrast with their plumage. 
Whilst assembled, the Goldfinches aré always extremely har- 
monious, and seem to express their happiness by their delight- 
ful cries. Their flight, as every one who knows them must 
have observed, consists of a series of marked undulations, and 
oceasionally of great circles in the air. If pursued by any 
bird of prey, they mount in circles often to a great height, 
knowing well that they are safe only when above their ene- 
