328 
THE LIVING WORLD. 
The Goldfinch {F. carduelis) is much more charming than his congener, 
both in color and habits, and is a very popular English pet. Its natural 
haunts are about houses, and captivity destroys none of its graces, but rather 
promotes its faculties of charming entertainment. No bird can be taught so 
easily, which accomplishment is turned to good account by bird fanciers, who teach 
it a great variety of amusing tricks, such as firing a cannon, whistling at the 
word of command, simulating death, performing on the trapeze, etc. It is a 
sweet singer, and is beautifully arrayed in a variegated plumage; about the bill 
is crimson, head and neck 
a jet black, sides of face, 
white, back and breast 
grayish-brown. 
The nest of tins, gold¬ 
finch is generally located 
near the tip of a branch 
bearing a thick foliage, 
and is so artfully made 
to assimilate with the 
surroundings as to be 
most difficult of detection; 
nor does the bird fly to or 
from her nest directly, 
always creeping some dis¬ 
tance along the branch 
before taking flight. 
The Girlitz (Serinns 
hortulanus) is a native 
of southern Europe, and 
bears a close resemblance 
to the canary. It is a 
garden bird with pretty 
markings of black spots 
and stripes over a ground 
color of pale green. The 
points of the wings and 
tail are also black. It 
has a soft note varying 
from a chirrup to an oc¬ 
casional twitter. 
The Magpie {Pica 
candata ) is an American 
bird, and confined largely 
to the United States. A species called the Yellow-bellied Magpie is also 
found in Europe, an identity of habits being observable in the two. It is a 
daring bird, of an omnivorous appetite, eating carrion, smaller birds, eggs, the 
young of quails, rats, frogs, mice, snails, caterpillars, etc., and has such a raven¬ 
ing desire for fresh meat that it will attack the galled places that may be 
exposed on horses and mules. It is a cunning and intelligent bird, easily 
tamed and with but little care may be taught to whistle any air, or to talk 
GROUP OF FINCHES. CROSS-BEAK, RED BUEEFINCH, KERNEE-BITER, 
CHAFFINCH AND GIREITZ. 
