HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



LbU 



bird is in health it will be almost incessantly 

 uttering a note in a still lower key, which is formed 

 without opening the bill ; but it is not very easy to 

 ascertain from the song of the imprisoned bullfinch 

 what notes he whistles in the woods and orchards, 

 because when caged he introduces a variety of notes 

 into his melody, should he have been kept within 

 hearing distance of other singing-birds. These 

 casual notes are interjected in a singular manner, 

 but do not totally overpower what seems to be his 

 own peculiar strain. One bird which I had an 

 opportunity of observing, brought in occasionally a 

 long shrill whistle ; and there is no doubt that by 

 frequently whistling before even an adult bird some 

 simple tune, it might be made to pick up at least 

 fragments of it. However tame a bullfinch may 

 have become, it is usually reluctant to sing unless 

 it is alone ; though with some the song may be 

 started if a person stands near them, and moves his 

 head slowly to and fro, at the same time making a 

 low monotonous whistle. 



I am afraid that it must be confessed that the 

 Bullfinch is not remarkable for his sociality — at 

 least towards other birds. In aviaries, so far as I 

 am aware, this bird is rarely introduced, nor would 

 he be likely to conduct himself in a mixed society 

 of finches with much regard to courtesy. One 

 which I have seen in cage for some time, has always 

 manifested much indignation if another bird was 

 brought at all near to him ; and he also showed a 

 curious antipathy to, or jealousy of, children, 

 arising possibly from the same cause as that feeling 

 many dogs display, when children are noticed before 

 them, and which is sometimes so strong that, if not 

 kept back, they will actually fly at the person 

 caressed. The Bullfinch, however, satisfied himself 

 by opening his mouth angrily and uttering a hoarse 

 croak. 



If not cordially disposed towards his brethren, 

 this bird soon becomes exceedingly familiar and 

 affectionate, if kindly treated by those about him. 

 He may be taught to take seeds from the finger or 

 the mouth, and will distinguish his usual feeder 

 from other individuals he may be accustomed to see. 

 When thus tamed, on the approach to his cage of 

 any one he recognizes, he will perform a friendly 

 salute, by tapping gently with his bill upon the face 

 or the hand, if presented to him. One thing is 

 notable, that however wild a bullfinch may be, he 

 despises all efforts to disturb him at night. When 

 sleep overpowers him, he settles himself down with 

 resolute stolidity ; and one that has been during the 

 day in a flutter if there was any one within a few 

 feet of him, may be approached after roosting-time 

 with a lighted candle, and though he may deign just 

 to turn his head round, he will not move on his 

 perch. 



It has been observed, doubtless, by those who 

 have kept different species of finches in cages or 



aviaries, that most individuals of such species as the 

 goldfinch and linnet, though they may be tolerably 

 tame, do not care to be set at liberty in a room. The 

 canary will recreate himself greatly in this manner ; 

 for, through having been bred in confinement for 

 many generations, he has become thoroughly 

 domesticated; but not so other finches, which arc 

 either unwilling to leave their cages at all, or, if 

 liberated, fly about wildly. The only exception is in 

 the case of some nestlings, which frequently acquire, 

 as it were, habits differing from those natural to the 

 species. The Bullfinch, in particular, is very un- 

 comfortable when taken from his domicile. The 

 effect upon him of this unwonted liberty is a com- 

 plete confusion of ideas ; he dashes wildly at the 

 window, or against some conspicuous object — or, as 

 in a recent instance, when one was liberated in a 

 room where there was a fire burning, he darted 

 towards it under some erroneous impression as to 

 its nature, we may suppose. The hapless bird 

 alluded to actually planted himself upon the top of 

 the coals, whence he was rescued with some damage 

 to leg and wing; the result being that one leg after- 

 wards dropped off. In spite of this, he still manages, 

 by means of the remaining limb and the stump, 

 to mount his perches, although his tumbles are 

 frequent. 



Hemp-seed, so it is said, decays the colour of 

 bullfinches. Unfortunately there are some which 

 positively reject other food ; a mixture of hemp and 

 rape seems, as far as health is concerned, to suit 

 them tolerably well. If possible, it may be more 

 advantageous to keep them on canary and rape, with 

 a little poppy-seed added occasionally. Considerable 

 satisfaction is afforded to a bullfinch I am 

 accustomed to observe, by the donation of occa- 

 sional flies, which he gobbles up readily. He is, 

 nevertheless, highly discriminating, rejecting most 

 decidedly any that are offered to him which do not 

 belong to the species domestica. At times he will 

 attempt to catch these as they fly about his cage in 

 summer, though rarely successful, through his lack 

 of agility. J. ft. S. C. 



THE ELEA. 



(Pulex irritans.) 



PT1HE notice of Mr. Eurlonge's paper on the 

 -*- anatomy of the flea in the May number of 

 Science-Gossip (which gives me all my knowledge 

 of it), has led me to look over some notes in my 

 portfolio, and a drawing made on the screen of 

 the solar microscope, more than two years ago, 

 of the tongue and lancets of the Bed-flea. 

 Very little seems to have been known of this 

 familiar object before the appearance of M. W. 

 Lens Aldous's beautiful and well-known drawing 

 made under the solar microscope ; for the par- 



