FOR CAGES AND A VIARIES. 67 



brought down on the poor mangled remains in a manner 

 that was dreadful to behold. 



Foolish agriculturist ! do you never prune your trees ? 

 Of course you do, and cut away more buds with one sweep 

 of your knife than a Bullfinch would consume in a month. 

 Then look at the economic waste. You don't know, or 

 you would not do it, that one of these little despised birds 

 might, if properly educated, find a purchaser at the fabulous 

 price of ;f 10. Ten pounds sterling! think of that in these 

 days of agricultural depression ! and, in any case, it would 

 be worth los. if it only piped a note or two. 



A new light ? Let us hope so. But how is the Bullfinch 

 to be trained ? 



Take the young ones from the nest (the ruddier breasted 

 if you only want the cocks), and bring them up by hand, 

 which you, friend farmer, or your wife or daughter can 

 quite readily do, on bread and milk and boiled rape-seed, 

 crushed and freed as much as may be from the husk ; 

 and while they are being so fed, play or whistle to them 

 the air you wish them to acquire. By the time they 

 are able to feed themselves they will have learned it 

 fairly well, though it will be as well to continue the les- 

 sons undl after the first moult. Or, instead of whistling 

 or playing an air to them on the melodeon, flute, or bird- 

 organ, you can talk to the little things and teach them to 

 say " God save the Queen," or " Hip, hip, hurrah for 

 the — " for anybody you like; and you may ask pretty well 

 any sum you like for the little creatures once they are 

 perfect in their task. 



Better than shooting them, that, and trampling under 

 heavy heels, eh .? 



The Bullfinch is the most constant of birds. Talk about 

 Turtledoves! they are not in the same boat with him — he 

 pairs for life, and if he attaches himself to a person when 

 he is kept in capdvity, his grief at parting from the loved 

 one is so great that he will often die. Nor is it cupboard 

 love, for he will get fond of even those he sees about, 

 although they may have nothing to do with feeding and 

 attending to him ; therefore, if you are intending to sell 

 him, do not make any effort to win his affection, but 



