Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/415

383&#93; G o L concluded • n die gold i nuint ; as, in the contrary ca will be evident that ii is a base or adulterated metal. Gold-cup. Sec Bulbous Crow- foot. GOLDEX-ROD, the Common orWou -woRT, Solicit i go I ' r- gaurea, L. an indigenous perennial plant, growing in woods, hedges, h .aths, and copses ; and flowering from July to September. This plant was formerly offici- nal, and is still in great repute among country people, for its me- dicinal virtues ; but we are inclin- ed to think, it may with greater ad- vantage be employed as a dyeing drug. Both its leaves and flowers impart a beautiful yellow colour ; which, according to Bechstein, is even superior to that obtained from woad. GOLD-FINCH, or F>i„giUa carduelis, L. is a native of Europe, and is sometimes also found in Asia and Africa. This bird is peculiarly beautiful in its colour, of an elegant form, and strikes melodious notes. Its bill is white, tipped with black, and its lorehead and chin of a rich scar- let tint, divided by a line passing from each corner of the bill to the eyes, which are black. Gold-rincb.es begin to sing early in the spring, and continue to whistle the greater part of the year, when kept in a cage. In a state of confinement, they are much attached to their keepers, and will learn a variety of little tricks, such as to draw up small vessels containing hemp or Ca- nary-seeds, and water j to fire squibs or crackers, &c. Gold-finches construct very neat and compact nests with moss, dried £rass, ajid roots, which they line G OL r.;S3 With wool, hiir, the down of this- and other soft substances. i females lay five white eggs, marked with deep purple '■pot-, at the larger end: they fe..-d 'heir young with caterpillars and inseefs; bu' the old birds subsist on various kinds of i cially those of the thistle, of which they are ex- tremely fond. As these birds are frequently liable to be sick, it will be requi- site to allow them every day a little groundsel, and some saffron in their water. If they are lax, a small portion of chalk should be given them, either by fixing it to the side of the cage, or crumbling it on the. bottom. Red sand, or gravel, should like- wise be strewed every day in their habitation ; for, as they chiefly sub- sist on oily seeds, the gravel or sand will qualify, and absorb the oil in their stomachs. — Gold-finches will breed with the Canary-bird : this intermixture is most successful be- tween the male finch and the fe- male Canary, whose offspring is productive, and is said to resemble the male in the bill, the colours of the head, and wings; and the hen, in the rest of the body. GOLD-FISH, or Cyprians au~ ratns, L. is a native of the Last Indies, whence it was introduced into England, about the latter end of the 1/th century. These lish are very tender, even in their native climates ; but they are now become so naturalized, that they even breed in this coun- try. They are chiefly kept in glass vessels for ornament j but it has lately been ascertained, that they thrive and propagate in ponds or other reservoirs ; where they grow much larger and come to greater perfection than in the East : hence