130 AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. 



of the Goldfinch recalled to my remembrance its transatlantic kinsman, and 

 brought with it too a grateful feeling for the many acts of hospitality and 

 kindness which I have experienced in the "old country." 



The nest also is perfectly similar to that of the European bird, being 

 externally composed of various lichens fastened together by saliva, and lined 

 with the softest substances. It is small and extremely handsome, and is 

 generally fixed on a branch of the Lombardy poplar, being sometimes 

 secured to one side of a twig only. I have also found it in elder bushes, a 

 few feet above the ground, as well as in other trees. The female deposits 

 from four to six eggs, which are white, tinged with bluish, and marked at 

 the larger end with reddish-brown spots. They raise only one brood in a 

 season. The young follow the parents for a long time, are fed from the 

 mouth, as Canaries are, and are gradually taught to manage this themselves. 

 When it happens that the female is disturbed while on her nest, she glides 

 off to a neighbouring tree, and calls for her mate, pivoting herself on her 

 feet, as above described. The male approaches, passes and repasses on the 

 wing at a respectful distance from the intruder, in deeper curves than usual, 

 uttering its ordinary note, and when the unwelcome visitant has departed, 

 flies with joy to his nest, accompanied by the female, who presently resumes 

 her occupation. 



The food of the American Goldfinch consists chiefly of seeds of the hemp, 

 the sun-flower, the lettuce, and various species of thistle. Now and then, 

 during winter, it eats the fruit of the elder. 



In ascending along the shores of the Mohawk river, in the month of 

 August, I have met more of these pretty birds in the course of a day's walk 

 than anywhere else; and whenever a thistle was to be seen along either bank 

 of the New York canal, it was ornamented with one or more Goldfinches. 

 They tear up the down and withered petals of the ripening flowers with ease, 

 leaning downwards upon them, eat off the seed, and allow the down to float 

 in the air. The remarkable plumage of the male, as well as its song, are at 

 this season very agreeable; and so familiar are these birds, that they suffer 

 you to approach within a few yards, before they leave the plant on which 

 they are seated. For a considerable space along the Genessee river, the 

 shores of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and even Lake Superior, I have always 

 seen many of them in the latter part of summer. They have then a decided 

 preference for the vicinity of water. 



It is an extremely hardy bird, and often remains the whole winter in the 

 Middle Districts, although never in great numbers. When deprived of 

 liberty, it will live to a great age in a room or cage. I have known two 

 instances in which a bird of this species had been confined for upwards of 

 ten years. They were procured in the market of New York when in 



