no BIRDS, BEASTS, AND FISHES 



The fenmen cage him, nor do they find it difficult to tame 

 him. Give hemp-seed with a free hand and he will soon 

 grow reconciled to his new "prison," and favour you with 

 his spinx-like call, or a more pretentious twittering — his own, 

 but a poor thing, and not necessary to life. 



But the vision of him in sober grey winter flitting over 

 the embrowned marshlands, gives a tinge of colour to life, 

 though it be crude and garish and impure ; and as a forced 

 bean is precious to the winter diner, so may the brambling 

 be an addition to the dull wintry landscape. A chromo- 

 lithograph may brighten a wall to keep a nightmare away, as 

 it may produce one. 



