The Goldfinch. 



83 



themselves when old enough to cater for their food : for, if 

 left with their parents, they are certain to become mischievous 

 and troublesome, and prevent the propagation of future broods. 



Methods of Capture. — In a garden or orchard where 

 these birds are known to frequent constantly, their nest will 

 be found built on one of the topmost branches of an apple, 

 pear, plum, or cherry tree ; the nest will be found, in most 

 cases, built in the fork of a branch where the foliage is thickest. 

 By close observation, the old birds, after a place has been 

 selected, may be observed carrying the necessary material for 

 its construction ; but they are cautious and cunning, and, if 

 they find they are being watched, will desist from their 

 labours until the observer has departed out of sight ; hence 

 their nests are very difiScult to discover. Young birds — that 

 is, birds of the first season — are less cautious than older and 

 more experienced ones, unless their first nest of eggs has 

 been removed by someone ; but they equally readily forsake 

 their nests if molested. 



The birds are easily caught in stormy weather, when their 

 food is difficult to obtain ; but they may also be taken at 

 almost any time of the year, excepting the period which 

 embraces the breeding season, when they are protected by 

 Act of Parliament. The Act, however, is carried out in 

 most places in such a lax manner that it has become 

 little better than a bye-word among those men who rank as 

 professional bird-catchers. Consequently, Goldfinches, and 

 many other varieties of birds, also protected in the same way, 

 are taken nearly all the year round. 



Goldfinches are taken with limed twigs, or with trap-cages, 

 and the clap-net, at the period of migration, when they 

 travel in flocks, in large numbers. The young birds take 

 flight in June, July, and August principally, and the migratory 

 tendency continues into the month of October. The best 

 time for catching them is about Michaelmas, after the 

 moulting season, with the trap-cage and clap-nets chiefly, 

 when they frequent fields and lanes in search of thistle, 

 burdock, and plantain seeds. 



When using the trap-cage, a good *^call" or decoy bird, 

 such as an old hen Goldfinch, or a Mule of either sex, bred 

 between a Goldfinch and a Canary, and uttering the Goldfinch 

 notes, is essential. Many old bird-catchers prefer a Mule to 



g2 



