170 
v 
OUR HOME BIRDS. 
their food in the manner which Nature had taught 
them/ 
“ These birds are said to be so fond of each other’s 
company that a party of them soaring on the wing 
will alter their course at the calling of a single one 
perched on a tree. ‘ This call is uttered with much 
emphasis ; the bird prolongs its usual note without 
much alteration ; and as the party approaches erects 
its body and moves to the right and left, as if turn- 
ing on a pivot, apparently pleased at showing the 
beauty of its plumage and elegance of its manners/ 
“ It is probably this very fondness for society that 
has caused the goldfinch to be accused of vanity ; 
and so strong is the belief in its self-admiration that 
persons who keep it in confinement frequently place 
a small looking-glass in its cage ! But the truth prob- 
ably is, that the poor bird is pleased with its own re- 
flection, because it mistakes this shadow for the pres- 
ence of a companion. 
“A lady once kept in a cage a goldfinch which 
never saw her depart but he made an effort to follow 
her, and welcomed her return with every mark of 
delight, testifying his pleasure by all sorts of winning 
gestures. He caressed her finger with low and joy- 
ous murmurs ; but if any other finger than that of 
his mistress was offered, he pecked it sharply, and if 
hers and that of another person were put together 
