Genus XXXVIIT. FRINGILLA. FINCH. 
Species I. F. TEISTIS. 
YELLOW-BIRD, or GOLDFINCH. 
[Plate I. Fig. 2.] 
Linn. Syst. r., p. 320. — Carduelis Americana, Briss. hi., p. 64. — Le Char dormer et 
jaune, Buff, iv., p. 112, PL Enl. 202, f. 2. — American Goldfinch, Arct. Zool. 
ii., No. 242. — E wd. 274.— Lath. Syn. in., p. 288, 57. — Id. Sup. p. 166.— Bar- 
tram, p. 290. 
This bird is four inches and a half in length, and eight inches in 
extent ; of a rich lemon yellow, fading into white towards the rump and 
vent. The wings and tail are black, the former tipped and edged with 
white, the interior webs of the latter are also white ; the fore part of 
the head is black ; the bill and legs of a reddish cinnamon color. This 
is the summer dress of the male ; but in the month of September, the 
yellow gradually changes to a brown olive, and the male and female 
are then nearly alike. They build a very neat and delicately formed 
little nest, which they fasten to the twigs of an apple tree, or to the 
strong branching stalks of hemp, covering it on the outside with pieces 
of lichen, which they find on the trees and fences ; these they glue 
together with their saliva, and afterwards line the inside with the soft- 
est downy substances they can procure. The female lays five eggs, of a 
dull white, thickly marked at the greater end ; and they generally raise 
two broods in a season. The males do not arrive at their perfect plum- 
age until the succeeding spring ; wanting, during that time, the black 
on the head ; and the white on the wings being of a cream color. In 
the month of April they begin to change their winter dress, and before 
the middle of May appear in brilliant yellow : the whole plumage to- 
wards its root is of a dusky bluish black. 
The song of the Yellow-bird resembles that of the Goldfinch of 
Britain ; but is in general so weak as to appear to proceed from a con- 
siderable distance, when perhaps the bird is perched on the tree over 
your head. I have, however, heard some sing in cages with great energy 
and animation. On their first arrival in Pennsylvania, in February, 
and until early in April, they associate in flocks, frequently assembling 
in great numbers on the same tree to bask and dress themselves in the 
morning sun, singing in concert for half an hour together ; the confused 
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