--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Parratt, Delbert W. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 19 number: 12 published: 1916-10 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Delbert W. Parratt, "Outlines for Scout Workers. XIII: The American Goldfinch," *Improvement Era* 19, no. 12 (October 1916): 1074–1077.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1912unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1912unse start_page: 1074 end_page: 1077 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1916-10) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1912unse publication_year: 1916 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1916, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Outlines for Scout Workers. XIII: The American Goldfinch Outlines for Scout Workers BY DELBERT W. PARRATT, B. S. XIII. The American Goldfinch A light broke in upon my soul It was the carol of a bird; It — ceased and then it came again, The sweetest song ear ever heard. Byron. 1. Name the two kinds of goldfinches found in Utah. In what part of our state is each found? 2. The American goldfinch is also known by what other four common names? Why is each applied to the bird? What is its scientific name and why is it so named? ; 3. Contrast male and female birds in size, song, and color. Why these differences? 4. Contrast their winter with their summer clothing, and tell why the difference. I 5. Name at least five other birds belonging to the finch family. 6. Tell of the goldfinch's .flight. 7. When, where, and of what do they ordinarily build their nests? Why build there? » 8. Tell of the size, color, markings, and number of eggs. 9. Upon what does ithis bird ordinarily subsist? OUTLINES FOR SCOUT WORKERS 1075 10. Should it be protected? Give at least two reasons for your answer. HANDY MATERIAL Sometimes goldfinches one by one will drop From low hung branches; little space they stop, But sip, and twitter, and their feathers sleek, Then off at once, as in a wanton freak; Or. perhaps, to show their black and golden wings, Pausing upon their yellow flutterings. i Were I in such a place, I sure should pray That naught less sweet might call my thoughts away Than the soft rustle of a maiden's gown Fanning away the dandelion's down. John Keats. Both the American and the Arkansas goldfinches are found in Utah. The former is scattered quite generally throughout our state while the latter is confined principally to the southeastern part. The American which frequents our immediate localities is often called the yellow bird because of its beautiful, yellow plumage. Some call it the thistle bird because it is so often seen in thistle' patches, and to others it is known as the lettuce bird on account of its fondness for lettuce seed. Its charming, canarylike song as well as suggestive colorings have led many to mistake it for wild canary, and such it is often called by those not knowing its true identity. Among bird students our American goldfinch is referred to as the Astra galinits tristis. Tristis means sad, and is suggested by the plaintive note made by the bird while it is in the act of flying, and Astragalinus has reference to the prickley plants upon whose seeds the finch so often feeds. This, like all other finches, belongs to the sparrow family and is therefore somewhat closely related to the pine siskins, groesbeaks, buntings, sparrows, linnets, and towhees. It measures ordinarily about four and one-half inches in length and is consequently a little smaller than the English sparrow. It is one of the most beautiful of all our birds. This is especially true of the male in the spring time, for then he appears in his best to attract the attentions of coveted females. At this season his gown is a clean lemon yellow and his peculiar little cap, his active wings, and much of his tail are a contrasty black. However, the somberness of wing and tail is enlivened by pleasing touches of yellowish white, supplementing the cheery yellow already mentioned, and satisfying the tastes of the most fastidious females. The call note of our g'oldfinch is a long "S-w-e-e-t, s-w-e-e-t," and his plaintive wing song is a soft "Per-chic-o-ree, per-chic-oree." But his sweetest song is warbled during mating season to 1076 IMPROVEMENT KkA ingratiate himself into the good wishes of some less concerned lady bird. On such occasions he bursts into wild, sweet, incoherent melody, expressing raptures somewhat after the manner the canary, although his song lacks the variety and finish of <> r his caged name-sake. The female, a little smaller than the male, is brownish olive above and yellowish white beneath. During the time of mating she differs so much from the male in color and markings that one not familiar with the birds would be prone to consider them of different families. But as summer goes, the proud male changes from the "gayest of cavaliers to a modest Puritan." His charming love song ceases and he becomes so transformed that he is scarcely distinguishable from the quiet, subdued female. Few birds undergo a more pronounced change for mating purposes than does our male goldfinch. His attractive song and showy colors are decided menaces to his safety, but every spring, in spite of this, he insists on making himself heard and seen by the retiring, modest females. Later, however, when song and color have served their purposes, he sensibly adapts them to his', subdued surroundings and thus, like the female, better protects himself from ever lurking enemies. Unlike many other birds, the goldfinch almost never cleaves the air in straight lines. His flight is graceful, rhythmical, and undulatory. It, together with the sweet though sad "Per-chico-ree" notes, is a sure mark of identification and readily distinguishes the American goldfinch from all other birds of our fields, forests, and orchards. During breeding season the mated birds are very considerate of and affectionate toward each other. They are fond of billing, singing', and hovering together. In true spirit they abide "The gentle law that each should be The other's heaven and harmony." For nesting sites, they prefer places near the ends of swaying horizontal branches, although at times they are content with the crotch of a tree, a bush, but more often with a dense thistle patch. Alarge thistle offers some protection to eggs and baby birds against snakes and other small animals which find no joy in climbing the prickly stalk. The swaying branch yields to the wind and thus gives an up and down, to and fro motion that seems to appeal to the nesting birds. As a precaution against losing eggs, these wise little builders have learned the necessity of turning the upper edge of the nest slightly inward and thereby making it quite impossible for any of the eggs, even in severe storms, to roll out. Lichens, moss, fine grass, and vegetable fiber are favorite OUTLINES FOR SCOUT WORKERS 1077 tiest-building materials. These or part of them are so ingeniously woven together that the finished walls are remarkably smooth. Soft thistle and other plant down snugly lines the neatly built nest and in this are placed from three to six pretty, pale-blue eggs beautifully diversified with delicate purplish dots. During breeding time the goldfinches are usually found in pairs. At other times they go in flocks. Ordinarily they are seen in orchards, gardens, meadows, and in places supporting thistles, wild lettuce, sunflowers, dandelions, cockleburs, docks, and other like seed producing weeds. From these troublesome weeds, especially the thistle, lettuce, and dock, the helpful finches get most of their food. However, they are by no means strictly vegetarian, for during spring and early "summer they devour great numbers of flies, plant lice and small grasshoppers, and as weevil eaters they are among the peerless. These beautiful and useful songsters spend the entire year in our midst. During the winter months they flock •principally along our foothills and in open fields wherever suitable weed seeds might be obtained. At this season they are often mistaken for sparrows, but the light markings on wings and tail, the characteristic "s-w-e-e-t" call note, and the graceful uncertain flight should be sufficient to tell what they really are. Of such a bird as our goldfinch, Shakespeare must have been thinking when he wrote Under the greenwood tree, Who loves to lie with me, And tune his merry note Unto the sweet bird's throat, Come hither, come hither, come hither! Here shall he see ; No enemy But winter and rough weather. Who doth ambition shun And, loves to lie i' the sun, Seeking the food he eats And pleased with what he gets, Come hither, come hither, come hither! Here ishall he see No enemy But winter and rough weather.