102 FRIXGILLID.E. 



Grey-haired ploughmen talk of their services among the 

 thistles, and other weeds in the outfield ; but infield and out- 

 field the wretched agricultural practices of the olden times 

 have alike passed away, and with them this bright finch, 

 which is now only known as a rare straggler. - " In Crete, 

 according to Mr. Drummond, the Goldfinch is common, and 

 a permanent resident : in the island of Corfu, however, these 

 birds are seen in large flocks during the winter only, arriving 

 in the latter part of September, and disappearing by the first 

 week in April : few only remain during the summer. In 

 France and Germany, and other parts of the middle and 

 south of Europe, this species is numerous. 



Besides thistles and teasel, before mentioned as articles 

 of food, Goldfinches feed upon the seeds of the dandelion, 

 lettuce, groundsel, and many other plants of similar kinds ; 

 also chickweed, hemp and canary seed, &c. 



The Goldfinch constructs its nest in gardens, orchards, 

 and plantations. It is a small and elegant fabric. One in 

 our possession is formed, externally, of broad, flexible blades 

 of dry grass, forming a close and beautiful matting, and lined 

 with a great number of feathers, chiefly placed in an upright 

 position, their hollow sides fitting around the cup-like interior. 

 The feathers are entirely white, and the dry grass very pale 

 in colour, forming altogether a structure of great delicacy and 

 beauty : this nest was taken from a furze-bush upon a com- 

 mon. Most nests of this species are constructed of moss, 

 wool, and lichens, and lined with thistle-down, feathers, or 

 hair ; it may therefore be presumed that Goldfinches, as 

 well as many other species, employ any materials at hand that 

 are capable of being adapted to their purpose. 



When the Goldfinch builds in a garden, it often selects an 

 elder-tree for the site of its nest ; we have also been told 

 of its partiality for the Tartarian honey-suckle as a nesting- 

 place. But even in localities where this species is plentiful, 



