AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. 
131 
mature plumage, aud had been caught in trap-cages. One of them having 
undergone the severe training, more frequently inflicted in Europe than 
America, and known in France by the name of galerien, would draw water 
for its drink from a glass, it having a little chain attached to a narrow belt 
of soft leather fastened round its body, and another equally light chain 
fastened to a little bucket, kept by its weight in the water, until the little 
fellow raised it up with his bill, placed a foot upon it, and pulled again at the 
chain until it reached the desired fluid and drank, when, on letting go, the 
bucket immediately fell into the glass below. In the same manner, it was 
obliged to draw towards its bill a little chariot filled with seeds ; and in this 
distressing occupation was doomed to toil through a life of solitary grief, 
separated from its companions, wantoning on the wildflowers, and procuring 
their food in the manner in which nature had taught them. After being 
caught in trap-cages, they feed as if quite coutented ; but if it has been in 
spring that they have lost their liberty, and they have thus been deprived of 
the pleasures anticipated from the previous connexion of a mate, they linger 
for a few days and die. It is more difficult to procure a mule brood between 
our species and the Canary, than between the latter and the European Gold- 
finch, although I have known many instances in which the attempt was made 
with complete success. 
The young males do not appear in full plumage until the following spring. 
The old ones lose their beauty in winter, and assume the duller tints of the 
female. In fact, at that season, young and old of both sexes resemble each 
other. 
There is a trait of sagacity in this bird which is quite remarkable, and 
worthy of the notice of such naturalists as are fond of contrasting instinct 
with reason. When a Goldfinch alights on a twig imbued with bird-lime 
expressly for the purpose of securing it, it no sooner discovers the nature of 
the treacherous substance, than it throws itself backwards, with closed 
wings, and hangs in this position until the bird-lime has run out in the form 
of a slender thread considerably below the twig, when feeling a certain 
degree of security, it beats its Avings and flies off, with a resolution, doubt- 
less, never to alight in such a place again ; as I have observed Goldfinches 
that had escaped from me in this manner, when about to alight on any twig, 
whether smeared with bird-lime or not, flutter over it, as if to assure, them- 
selves of its being safe for them to perch upon it. 
This interesting species is found on the shores of the Columbia river. It 
is mentioned by Dr. Richardson as visiting the Fur Countries, Avhere it 
arrives at a very late period, as it retires in September, after a stay of less 
than three months. The eggs described by that most zealous naturalist 
agree in every particular with some now before me, which I collected 
