OF SELBORNE. 63 
A few years ago I saw a cock BuLLFINCH in a 
cage, which had been caught in the fields after it 
was come to its full colours. In about a year it 
began to look dingy, and, blackening every succeed- 
ing year, it became coal-black at the end of four. 
Its chief food was hempseed. Such influence has 
food on the colour of animals! The pied and 
mottled colours of domesticated animals are sup- 
posed to be owing to high, various, and unusual 
food.* | 
I had remarked, for years, that the root of the 
cuckoo-pint (arum) was frequently scratched out 
of the dry banks of hedges, and eaten in severe 
‘snowy weather. After observing with some exact- 
ness myself, and getting others to do the same, we 
found it was the thrush kind that searched it out. 
The root of the arum is remarkably warm and pun. 
ent. 
‘ Our flocks of hen chaffinches have not yet for- 
* Birds are much influenced in their choice of food by colour; 
for, though white currants are a much sweeter fruit than red, yet 
they seldom touch the former till they have devoured every bunch 
of the latter. 
