row, and the goldfinch, have more than six times as much brain 

 as the eagle in proportion to the size of the body. We may 

 look, therefore, for no less than six times his intelligence and 

 docile ability. Whilst in the case of the little tomtit it is thir- 

 teen times as much. 



But now for the goldfinch, of which our cut — which is both 

 faithful and beautiful — shows us a pair, evidently contemplating 

 with much satisfaction the nest which they have just finished on 

 one of the topmost boughs of a blossomy apple-tree. This nest 

 is a wonderful little fabric, built of moss, dry grass, and slender 

 roots, lined with hair, wool, and thistle-down ; but the true 

 wonder of the nest is the exact manner in which the outside is 

 made to imitate the bough upon which it is placed. All its 

 little ruggednesses and lichen growths are represented,, whilst 

 the colouring is so exactly that of the old apple-tree that it is 

 almost impossible to know it from the branch itself Wonderful 

 ingenuity of instinct, which human skill would find It almost 

 impossible to imitate ! 



The bird lays mostly five eggs, which are of a bluish-grey, 

 spotted with greyish-purple or brown, and sometimes with a 

 dark streak or two. 



The goldfinch is one of the most beautiful of our English 

 birds, with its scarlet forehead, and quaint little black velvet- 

 like cap brought down over its white cheeks ; its back is cin- 

 namon brown, and its breast white ; its wings are beautifully 

 varied in black and white, as are also its tail feathers. In the 

 midland counties it is known as "The Proud Tailor," probably 

 because its attire looks so bright and fresh, and it has a lively 

 air as if conscious of being well dressed. 



