Daily Life of this Bird. 17 



Like its relation, the linnet, it congregates in flocks as soon 

 as its young can take wing, when they may be seen wheeling round 

 in the pleasant late summer and autumn fields, full of life, and 

 in the enjoyment of the plenty that surrounds them, in the 

 ripened thistle-down, and all such winged seeds as are then 

 floating in the air. 



How often have I said it is worth while to go out into the 

 woods and fields, and, bringing yourself into a state of quiet- 

 ness, watch the little birds in their life's employment, building 

 their nests, feeding their young, or pursuing their innocent 

 diversions ! So now, on this pleasant, still autumn afternoon, 

 if you will go into the old pasture fields where the thistles have 

 not been stubbed up for generations, or on the margin of the 

 old lane where ragwort, and groundsel, and burdock flourish 

 abundantly, " let us," as the author of " British Birds " says, 

 "stand still to observe a flock of goldfinches. They flutter 

 over, the plants, cHng to the stalks, bend in various attitudes, 

 disperse the down, already dry and winged, like themselves, 

 for flight, pick them out one by one and swallow them. Then 

 comes a stray cow followed by a herd boy. At once the birds 

 cease their labour, pause for a moment, and fly off in succes- 

 sion. You observe how lightly and buoyantly they cleave the 

 air, each fluttering its little wings, descending in a curved line, 

 mounting again, and speeding along. Anon they alight in a 

 little thicket of dried weeds, and, in settling, display to the 

 delighted eye the beautiful tints of their plumage, as with 

 fluttering wings and expanded tail, they hover for a moment 

 to select a landing place amid the prickly points of the stout 

 thistles whose heads are now bursting with downy-wingedseeds." 



