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turns sour, and would then kill the birds. They are fed 

 every two hours regularly ; from two to four quill-spoon- 

 fuls, according to size and age. As the birds grow 

 older, the quantity of seed is increased, and the egg de- 

 creased, till the bird can feed itself. They are by this 

 time already put into separate cages, about a foot 

 square, and the whole rape-seed, merely soaked, given 

 to them, and by degrees brought on to the hard seed. 

 The teaching begins from the first day they are taken 

 into the house. The tune that is intended they should 

 learn is whistled to them — wkisfling preferred, as in- 

 struments are generally too shrill — several times a day, 

 more particularly in the morning and evening. The 

 tune must be' whistled always in the same key, and no 

 other whistled in the hearing of the bird, which is kept 

 in rather a dark place during the process of training. 



There is a great difference in the capacity of the 

 bullfinch; some can be taught a couple of tunes in 

 three months, while others will take nine months ; some, 

 again, will only learn a part of a tune, while others will 

 not learn at all. What they have not taken up when 

 nine months old, they will never learn. I have thus 

 been particular in giving an account of their treatment 

 after being taken from the nest, for the information of 

 such persons as wish to breed them in cages in this 

 country, which can be done by putting a pair of healthy 

 and lively birds in a large cage or room, in which a 

 small pine-bush should be placed, and fine moss, dry 

 grass, and bristles given them for the purpose of nesting. 

 The breeding season is in May, June, and July. 



