AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. 131 



mature plumage, and had been caught in trap-cages. One of them having 

 undergone the severe training, more frequently inflicted in Europe than 

 America, and known in France by the name of galerien, would draw water 

 for its drink from a glass, it having a little chain attached to a narrow belt 

 of soft leather fastened round its body, and another equally light chain 

 fastened to a little bucket, kept by its weight in the water, until the little 

 fellow raised it up with its bill, placed a foot upon it, and pulled again at the 

 chain until it reached the desired fluid and drank, when, on letting go, the 

 bucket immediately fell into the glass below. In the same manner, it was 

 obliged to draw towards its bill a little chariot filled with seeds; and in this 

 distressing occupation was doomed to toil through a life of solitary grief, 

 separated from its companions, wantoning on the wildflowers, and procuring 

 their food in the manner in which nature had taught them. After being 

 caught in trap-cages, they feed as if quite contented; but if it has been in 

 spring that they have lost their liberty, and they have thus been deprived of 

 the pleasures anticipated from the previous connexion of a mate, they linger 

 for a few days and die. It is more difficult to procure a mule brood between 

 our species and the Canary, than between the latter and the European Gold- 

 finch, although I have known many instances in which the attempt was made 

 with complete success. 



The young males do not appear in full plumage until the following spring. 

 The old ones lose their beauty in winter, and assume the duller tints of the 

 female. In fact, at that season, young and old of both sexes resemble each 

 other. 



There is a trait of sagacity in this bird which is quite remarkable, and 

 worthy of the notice of such naturalists as are fond of contrasting instinct 

 with reason. When a Goldfinch alights on a twig imbued with bird-lime 

 expressly for the purpose of securing it, it no sooner discovers the nature of 

 the treacherous substance, than it throws itself backwards, with closed 

 wings, and hangs in this position until the bird-lime has run out in the form 

 of a slender thread considerably below the twig, when feeling a certain 

 degree of security, it beats its wings and flies off, with a resolution, doubt- 

 less, never to alight in such a place again; as I have observed Goldfinches 

 that had escaped from me in this manner, when about to alight on any twig, 

 whether smeared with bird-lime or not, flutter over it, as if to assure them- 

 selves of its being safe for them to perch upon it. 



This interesting species is found on the shores of the Columbia river. It 

 is mentioned by Dr. Richardson as visiting the Fur Countries, where it 

 arrives at a very late period, as it retires in September, after a stay of less 

 than three months. The eggs described by that most zealous naturalist 

 agree in every particular with some now before me, which I collected 



