343 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, Maech 5, 1861. 
Mid the larger wing-coverts have also a yellowish margin, which 
form a yellow spot on the wings. At the extremities of the 
primary wing and tail-feathers are small light spots, and some 
of the outer tail-feathers have a white spot on the inner vane. 
In front of the head round the base of the bill is a band of 
bright carmine red, intersected at the gape or opening of the 
nouth by a black spot; the top of the head is black, and the 
‘heeks whitish. 
The female is less bright in plumage than the male, the black 
spot at the corner of the beak inclines to grey, and the shoulders 
)f the wings are tinged with brown. 
The young in their first plumage are of a greyish-brown on 
she head and back, the wings and tail alone resembling the 
idult plumage. While in their nestling feathers they are desig- 
lated Greypates. 
Goldfinches breed rather late in the season, usually about 
Lay. The nest is a neat and elegant construction of moss, 
ichen, and hair, and lined with fine hair or vegetable down. 
Che position of the nest is various, some varieties preferring the 
ruit trees in gardens or orchards, while others select the top of 
. high tree, or descend to a quickset hedge or low shrub. The 
ggs, four to six in number, are whitish, having a pale bluish- 
reen tinge slightly spotted with pale red, and black specks 
owards the larger end. 
Although naturalists only acknowledge one species, yet there are 
everal distinct or permanent varieties of this bird which are well 
nown to bird fanciers, and distinguished by various appellations, 
.'he large black-shouldered Goldfinch that frequents gardens 
nd orchards, building its nest in fruit trees, is called the Pear- 
ree Goldfinch, and from its size, stoutness, and docility, is most 
rized by Mule breeders. This bird is recognised by its greater 
ize, the blackness of the shoulders of the wings, the whiteness 
f the beak, and light colour of the legs. Another common 
nd well-marked variety is the little green-winged Goldfinch, 
'his variety is much shyer, and builds its nest at the top of some 
ill tree. The beak is much darker, the legs almost black, and 
le shoulders of the wings tinged with green in the male as well 
s the female. It is much smaller, less tractable, and on account 
f its restless, mischievous temperament, is not a desirable bird 
) breed from in confinement. 
There are also a large green-winged Goldfinch, but' this 
rare; and a smaller black-winged variety, which is more 
umerous. 
In addition to these, there are accidental varieties occasionally 
let with—as the Cheveral, Cheviot Goldfinch, which has a 
liite mark dividing the red below the beak. These are not very 
, umerous, occurring about one in a thousand, and are eagerly 
ought by fanciers. The Chibald, or Ring-headed Goldfinch, is 
, ill less common, and is distinguished by a white ring round 
re head. 
Bechstein mentions other accidental variations, as the yellow- 
reasted Goldfinch, quite white, white-headed, black-headed, 
nd black, which last is not unfrequently owing to a diseased 
ate at moulting time, often arising from feeding on too much 
empseed. 
Persons residing in the country can scarcely fail to become 
iquainted with the merry Goldfinch, his quick, jerking, un- 
ulatory flight, and dappled appearance as he flies from tree 
> tree in the bright sunshine. His shrill cry as he calls to hi3 
llows, pitch it, pitch it,-pitch it here; or when perched on an 
pper bough he gives vent to his amorous lay, pressing his 
des with his wings, with spread tail and rocking movement he 
vists his body from side to side. His song though not very 
ing is frequently repeated, and is delivered in a quick, merry, 
coifed manner, usually of three stanzas, which may be likened 
> sweet, a sweet, a sweeter dear, twideler, twideler, tivideler, 
vitz, hiss, 7ciss, hiss, Marie. 
Mr. Hipkins in describing the fancier’s song of the Goldfinch 
ys, “ The properties were, sepating, sublinking, and chulyming 
r churming. There are but few birds at present that excel in 
le latter property, and the owners highly prize them. The 
. inning song was, Sublink, sublink, churmy, cliurmy, chink (or 
runny chay), sepate, sepate, churmy, chay, widdle, widdle, 
,iay, &c.” 
j The present favourite song he says is, as read by fanciers, 
• Sipit, slam, slam, widdle, widdle, siwity; of which jerk some 
jirds do the hussel chay, and the sipit, widdle, widdle, slam, 
r am, widdle, chay.” 
He further observes, “Slamming was formerly disregarded, 
>t being considered a good property, as birds singing their 
natural note were distinctively designated rough slamming birds. 
The song of the latter, however, is not so distinct and clear as 
that of birds which have been taught; but there is not to the 
uninitiated so marked a difference between the songs of the 
taught and untaught Goldfinches when heard together, as there 
is between those of the fuzzy and the song Linnet.” 
The Goldfinch, I believe, is strictly a vegetarian in diet, the 
seeds of thistles, dandelion, groundsel, and other weeds forming 
his biH of fare: consequently, we hear of no complaints from 
the farmer against this pretty little bird, which is rather remark¬ 
able, as nearly every bird is condemned by the agricultural class 
without reference to what they eat. After the breeding season 
they congregate in small flights and frequent the rough and 
waste places where such seeds are to be found, on which they 
feed ; and towards autumn these flights unite into larger ones, 
which move about in search of food, and during these autumn and 
spring wanderings the bird catchers secure great numbers in the 
clap-nets, which they seH for about 6s. per dozen in London. 
The retail price rising in proportion to the time they have been 
in confinement and accustomed to their new mode of life. They 
are also frequently taken by a trap-cage with a call-bird 
beneath. When first taken the seed given is usuaUy hemp and 
rapeseecl, and they should be gradually inured to canary seed. 
Hempseed is too exciting, and rape too pungent, both contain 
too much oil to make them proper food for a bird deprived of 
liberty. Canary seed should, therefore, form their chief food 
with clean water and sand. In addition they may have plenty 
of ripe thistle and dandelion heads, groundsel, shepherd’s purse, 
and chiekweed, a little maw seed occasionally, or a few grains 
of hemp by way of a treat.— B. P. Beent. 
(_To le continued.) 
FALL (AUTUMN) MANAGEMENT OF BEES. 
In vol. vi., No. 19, of the Prairie Farmer, is an article on the 
“ faU management of bees,” which I cannot suffer to pass with¬ 
out comment. The writer of the article evidently uses only the 
common box-hive, as his directions for manipulating with or 
uniting bees tend to show. I would here remark that this 
writer, and all others who use the common surplus box-liives — 
notwithstanding they are far more valuable than many of the 
fanciful, new-fangled patented bee-hives—are certainly behind 
the age. Hives having moveable frames, properly constructed 
and of proper form and shape, are now all the rage; and no 
inteUigent bee-keeper who fully understands the value of such 
hives will use any other. Reader, do not say that I have an 
“axe to grind,” is the reason that I am influenced thus to speak, 
for such is not the case. My object in noticing the article to 
which allusion has been made, is simply to give my method of 
managing the four colonies of bees spoken of by the writer of 
the article, by means of moveable frame-hives. In this way the 
comparative value of both methods can be seen at a glance. 
The writer of that article says :— 
“Mr. A. has four hives of bees. Two of them are heavy and 
populous, and a little care is all they need. The third is nearly 
filled with comb, a moderate quantity of bees, with somewhere 
from 5 lbs. to 8 lbs. of honey—about half enough to winter them 
on. The fourth is not half full of comb, about as many bees as 
the third, and, perhaps, 2 lbs. or 3 lbs. of honey. Now, how are 
these last two swarms to be the most profitably disposed of P 
I say, Unite and feed them. But how is this to be done ? In 
the right way, to be sure. In the first place take No. 3, raise 
the hive gently about an inch on one side, and blow some mild 
smoke under it (punk smoke is as good as any for this purpose). 
Then set the hive upon the ground in front of the stand and 
drum smartly for a few minutes, being very careful not to drum 
so hard as to break or loosen the comb. Then shake the bees 
out upon a wide board or sheet—need not be particular to get 
out every bee, because they are soon to be returned to the hive 
again. Now, treat No. 4 in the same way, being careful to get 
the bees out very clean. Now look out for the queen in No. 4. 
When found remove her as soon as possible, unless you know 
the queen in No. 3 to be an old one: in this case remove the 
queen in No. 3 instead of No. 4. Then shake the bees from 
No. 4 upon those from No. 3, and hive them in hive No. 3, as 
in swarming.” 
My method of uniting “ No. 3,” and “No. 4,” with frame- 
hives, is as foUows :—Open botAi hives and subdue by the smoko 
of punk, then sprinkle the bees thoroughly with diluted honey, 
