GOLDFINCH. 



The song of the Goldfinch is brisk and lively, 

 continuous, well kept up, and extremely musical 

 and cheerful ; and its common chirrup and call- 

 notes are more pleasing than those of most other 

 birds. 



It flies in flocks or companies, but these are 

 never very numerous, their societies rarely exceed- 

 ing twenty in number. Its flight is straightforward 

 and smooth, without any undulations or jerks, 

 though from its habit it never flies at any great 

 elevation above the ground. " They seldom," as 

 is observed by a distinguished naturalist, " alight 

 on the ground unless to procure water, in which 

 they wash with great liveliness and pleasure ; after 

 which they pick up some particles of gravel and 

 sand. So fond of each other's company are they, 

 that a party of them soaring on the wing will alter 

 their course at the call of a single one perched on 

 a tree." It is by means of the wild birds being so 

 readily attracted by this call that so very many of 

 them are taken by the bird-catchers. 



The song of the male (says Mr. Mudie) generally 

 begins in March, and continues improving till the 

 middle of May, at which time it is in the greatest 

 perfection. He sings from the perch, but prefers 

 one which is not very lofty ; begins at daybreak, 

 and continues with little intermission till sunset. 



The female is rather smaller than the other sex, 

 and has not so much red round the bill ; but does 

 not differ much in plumage, except that the colours 

 are not so bright. She begins to build in April, 

 when the fruit-trees are in blossom. Her nest is 

 small : the outside consists of very fine moss, very 



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