The Russellville Democrat., 1884-11-06
aoldIlnrhes, and HOW to brain rhenl.


The goldfinch Is one Of the most in
tercst ng OF bird pets. 1t is native OF
Europe, but large numbers are brought
10 this country, and may be purchased
from any bird-fancier 1t is constantly
ia motion, and its song, though not
powerful, is remarkably sweet. Besides
this. it is hardy little creature, is cas-
ilv tanned, ard soon becomes accus-
toned to the hand that feeds it.
Til, favorite food of the goldfinch
when wild is thistle seed, but he may be
fed on the ordinary seeds used for
BIRDS, az d. ~ special treat, the seed
pcds Of the common groundsel may be
given TO him. AS a cage-bird the gold
inch stands in the first rank. He should
have rGomy habitation wherein he can
disport himself, and, if properly man
AIRED. be allowed to fly out now and
then to stretch his wings. In very
little while be viii display ID alarm,
but win hop about the table in search
of any food which may take his fancy
A aoldinch NAV be trained to n va
riety OF tricks. Among others, he will
pull up little bucket of water from a
tiny well, OF draw up slope to within
his reach a small cart containing seed.
These interesting performances may
be taught as follows: The little cart
which runs upon the inclined strip OF
wood has string attached to it, and the
little vater-bucl1et Is in like manner sus-
PENDED from the perch, and rests in the
miniature well below. To teach the
tricks quickly there should be another
aud longer string fastened to the cart,
and held by person some distance off
and out OF sight. When the bird Il dis
posed to eat, the cart should be steadily
drawn up toward him, and when he has
taken few seeds it should be lowered
away little, whereupon he will try
with his feet to hold tho string, and to
pull up the cart little higher, until at
last he will use his beak and feet to-
geher, and become master of the trick.
With the water-backet similar course
is taken, but where one does not wi b
to devote so much time to the teaching,
the little cart can be fastened at first
within reach. containing but a few seeds.
Then it can be moved a little farther off,
few more grains being put in, and 50
on. The task is thus left mainly to the
bird, who moves the cart nearer and
nearer, until he has accustomed him eli
to draw it up.
Some persons keep goldfnches on
perches chained to one of the supports
by the leg. This is cruelty, and can not
be approved of. 1t is not unusual to soc
this bird upon perch fixed to board
to which the little seed cart is drawn
from an incline near by; but we coIrsid-
err this bad arrangement, because the
little fellow has what is commonly
called brace around his body, which
is so fixed that he Is able only to hop
down from the perch to the board to
come to the string by which he pulls up
his tiny cart; and in addition to this.
the brace must produce considerable II
ritation. The same object can be ac-
complished, as already described, with
In cage, where The bird has freedom
of action.
The goldtinch, in natural state,
builds one of the most graceful and
beautiful nests known 1t is generally
constructed on the fork of some high
branch, and is swayed hiiher and thith-
er by the wind, or the birds motions. so
that the young birds are accustomed to
the rocking and swinging. 1t matters
not to our little friend whether he il on
bis head or his heels. When IN search
Of food he c'ings to the thistle stems.
pecking away at the downy seeds till
disturbed or satisfied, and then darts of
with a merry twitter. To initiate the
natural motion of the branches there
should be a swing in every cage which
the weight OF the bird will move, SO as
to produce tie swaying motion. -Har-
a1e,.'2 yoU13U PsorIe