THE AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. 
Synonymes. 
Fringilla tristis , - 
Chardonneret j aune, 
Amerikanischer Distelfink, 
Jilguero americano, 
Pintacilgo americano, 
Calderino americano, 
Yellow Bird, American 
Goldfinch, 
Of Ornithologists. 
Of the French. 
Of the Germans. 
Of the Spaniards. 
Cf the Portuguese. 
Of the Italians. 
Of the British and 
AnGLO-Am E RICANS. 
HIS very beautiful and familiar messenger of spring is 
known throughout this continent from the 49th parallel 
of north latitude to the savannas of Guiana and Suri¬ 
nam. As summer approaches, the males cast off their olive- 
colored winter suits, and appear in their temporary golden 
livery, with the front of the head, wings, and tail of a deep 
black, when they may be heard in concert, tuning their lively 
notes, several sitting on the same tree enjoying the exhilerating 
scene, basking and pluming themselves, and vying with each 
other in pouring forth their varied, soft, and cheerful song. 
When they sing all together, as they now do, it has a pleasing 
effect; their favorite note resembles the word bdbee, or may be , 
the last syllable protracted and much higher than the first. 
They have also a note, which they utter when flying through 
the air, that sounds somewhat like the word physician , pro¬ 
nounced very rapidly. But the most beautiful part of their 
^ song, is, when they raise and sink their voices in such a delight 
