The Green-backed Goldfinch 



inches of the singer, apparently entranced with his melody. Again and 

 again I have seen these uprooted forests of song swept along on the flood 

 of the Goldfinch's own passion; and I think, more than ever, that music 

 is a spontaneous gift. Or else music is a circumambient ether. We have 

 only to get in tune, keyed up by some exalted passion, and lo! we vibrate 

 melodiously. At least it is so with the Goldfinch. 



For the information of one of the older authorities, Dr. J. G. Cooper, 

 we will record that nests of the Green-backed Goldfinch have recently been 

 found. I am sure I do not know what could have befallen the good 

 Doctor the day he wrote 1 by way of summary: "I have not met with 

 their nests, nor with any description of them; but they doubtless much 

 resemble those of C. tristis." Not met with them! Shades of Audubon! 

 Where were your eyes? For if there is one virtue which the Green-backed 

 Goldfinch possesses above another, it is that of propagating. Not 

 otherwise are the swollen ranks of hesperophihis maintained. Where is 

 the sycamore tree and where the cypress that has not sheltered the 

 Green-back's humble cradle? Where is the weed-patch even that has 

 not resounded to the tsui tsui tsweetie of dainty fledglings greeting a return- 

 ing parent with quivering wings, and a soft flood of thanks? Has all 

 this good fortune been reserved for our day? 



These Goldfinches not only nest 

 "most anywhere," but they carry 

 their labors through the 

 seasons with relentless 

 energy. The birds are 

 in full song by February, 

 and although they do 

 not often nest as early as 

 March, they are all at it 

 in April, and all busy 

 until July. There are 

 three published records 

 of nests with eggs or 

 young found in October; 

 and one, that of John M. 

 Miller, of Parlier, of a 

 November nest. This 

 last held fresh eggs on 

 the 22nd, but in spite 

 of the care of the parents, 

 it was wrecked by hard rains a week later 



LADY GREENBACK 

 BECOMES QUITE 



FEARLESS" 



Taken in Ventura County 

 Photo by Donald R. Dickey 



'Ornithology of California, Vol. I. Edited by S. F. Baird from the MS notes of J. G. Cooper, 1870. 



194 



