THE AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. 
53 ^ 
and they are therefore often disliked by gardeners; but their 
usefulness, in other respects, far more than counterbalances 
the trifling injuries they produce. 
After being caught in trap cages, they feed as if quite con¬ 
tented ; but, should it happen to be in the spring that they lose 
their liberty, and have thus been deprived of the pleasures 
anticipated from the previous union of a mate, they linger for 
a few days, pine away, and die. They are very fond of 
washing and bathing themselves, in clear shallow water, when 
the weather is mild, after which, they are engaged in picking 
up particles of sand and gravel, from which the fancier may 
take a useful hint. 
It is stated that it is more difficult to procure a mule, or 
hybrid, between this species and the Canary, than between 
the latter and the European goldfinch, although the cross has 
often been made with success. 
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