ORDER PASSERES.

The Goldfinch.

Fringilla carduelis.

THIS is one of the most elegant of our English birds; graceful in form, and arrayed in much more brilliant colours than the birds of this climate usually exhibit. It has also a sweet and cheerful song, which is heard from the earliest days of spring; but it is in the month of May that it gives us its sweetest and fullest strains: perched on a tree it will pour forth its notes from early morning till set of sun, and make the orchard resound with its music. It continues to sing till the month of August, except during the period at which it is rearing its young; then all its time and attention are devoted to parental duties. The male bird, though very attentive to his pretty. mate, does not assist her in building the nest; but he is constantly watching over her, either close by her side, or perched on the nearest tree; and this he does, both when she is seeking her food, and while engaged in preparing the abode

As

for her future progeny. The nest is composed of roots, fine moss, the down of plants, and lichens, and it is lined with horse-hair, wool, and downy feathers. Here the hen bird deposits five or six white eggs, spotted with brown towards the thick end. While she is hatching, her companion never leaves her except to procure food; but sits on a neighbouring tree and cheers her with his song. If disturbed, he flies away; but it is only as a feint to prevent the nest from being discovered, and he soon returns. On her part, she devotes herself with the utmost patience and constancy to her maternal cares. the time approaches when the young ones will make their appearance, she is evidently increasingly interested in their preservation, and will brave every thing to defend them from injury: the stormiest gales of wind, the drenching rain, or the pelting hail-storm, do not drive her from her nest; there she remains, and her faithful mate continues in attendance on her. At last, the little birds pierce the shell, and faint cries proclaim their wants to their parents; then there is full employment to procure food sufficient to supply five or six craving little creatures. The tender seeds of groundsel, lettuce, and other plants, are its favourite food; but especially

the thistle-seed; from its fondness for this plant it is sometimes called thistle-finch in England, and chardonneret in France.

The young goldfinches cannot provide their own food wholly, even when they have quitted the nest it is therefore long before they cease to require the attendance of the parent birds, and yet they contrive to raise three broods in a year. The goldfinch is easily reconciled to loss of freedom, and may be taught a variety of tricks, and rendered very familiar with its attendant. It is said to be so fond of the society of its own species, that even the resemblance of another goldfinch is sufficient to console it in captivity. If a glass is placed near the cage, it is evidently pleased to look at its own image reflected in it, and is often seen to take its hemp-seed, grain by grain, and go and eat before the mirror, thinking, no doubt, that it is feeding in company. Poor little bird how much more delightful to see it flying gaily among its feathered mates of the field and the orchard, than thus cheated with the semblance of society. Among the blackcaps the male, as we have noticed, selects the spot for the summer residence; with the goldfinches, on the contrary, it should appear that this is the business of the lady, though the gentleman decides the point at last by his casting