1 66 
BRITISH BIRDS. 
white fpot on each near the end; the legs are 
of a pale flefh colour. 
Beauty of plumage, fays the lively Count de 
Buffon, melody of fong, fagacity, and docility of 
difpofition, feem all united in this charming little 
bird, which, were it rare, and imported from a fo- 
reign country, would be more highly valued. Gold- 
finches begin to fmg early in the fpring, and con- 
tinue till the time of breeding is over ; when kept 
in a cage they will fmg the greateft part of the 
year. In a Hate of confinement they are much at- 
tached to their keepers, and will learn a variety of 
little tricks, fuch as to draw up fmall buckets con- 
taining their water and food, to fire a cracker, and 
fuch like. They conflru£t a very neat and corn- 
pad; neft, which is compofed of mofs, dried grafs, 
and roots, lined with wool, hair, and the down 
of thiftles, and other foft and delicate fubftances. 
The female lays five white eggs, marked with 
fpots of a deep purple colour at the larger end : 
They feed their young with caterpillars and infedcs ; 
the old birds feed on various kinds of feeds, particu- 
larly the thiftle, of which they are extremely fond. 
-—Goldfinches breed with the Canary ; this inter- 
mixture fucceeds bell between the cock Goldfinch 
and the hen Canary, whofe offspring are produc- 
tive, and are faid to referable the male in the Ihape 
of the bill, in the colours of the head and wings, 
and the hen in the reft of the body. 
