SONG BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



closely and neatly interwoven with other soft bed- 

 ding, such as wool, &c. ; the inside is lined with 

 delicate fine down, wool, and a few hairs and 

 feathers. She lays five or six eggs. The nest is 

 usually found in apple, pear, plum, or other fruit 

 trees, at a time when it cannot be approached with- 

 out the hazard of damaging the bloom or young 

 fruit. It is sometimes found in thorns and hedges. 



It is said that this bird is particularly fond of 

 admiring its gay plumage in a mirror, and of 

 preening its feathers before a glass. A better trait 

 in its character is exhibited in the following stanzas 

 by Cowper on 



THE FAITHFUL FRIEND. 



The greenhouse is my summer seat; 

 My shrubs, displaced from that retreat, 



Enjoy'd the open air; 

 Two Goldfinches, whose sprightly song 

 Had been their mutual solace long, 

 Lived happy prisoners there. 



They sung as blithe as Finches sing, 

 That flutter loose on golden wing, 



And frolic where they list ; 

 Strangers to liberty, 'tis true, — 

 But that delight they never knew, 



And therefore never miss'd. 



But Nature works in every breast ; 

 Instinct is never quite supprest ; 



And Dick felt some desires, 

 Which, after many an effort vain, 

 nstructed him at length to gain 

 A pass between his wires. 



