1 6 2 Bird- keep ing. 



nest before he has had time to learn his father's song, 

 and can be easily reared on moistened bread and 

 scalded rape-seed; and, as soon as he begins to twitter, 

 he must have constant lessons, on a clarionet or bird- 

 organ, of the airs he is to pipe. These should always 

 be given early in the morning and when the bird is 

 hungry ; the air he is to learn, or a portion of it, should 

 be played or whistled over and over to him in the 

 dark, and when he tries to imitate it he must be re- 

 warded with his breakfast and a few hemp-seeds, or 

 other especially favourite food. He should hear no 

 other sound while his lesson is being repeated to him, 

 and it is necessary that it should be repeated exactly 

 in the same time, and without any variation in the 

 tune. If a false note be played, or an imperfect instru- 

 ment be used, the b.rd is almost sure to copy the im- 

 perfections in his performances. When once thoroughly 

 learnt, he will be very much displeased if any mistake 

 be made in the repetition of the air, and will stop short, 

 and hiss, and begin it afresh. In Germany there are 

 regular schools for Bullfinches, where the birds are 

 taught in classes for some months, and then each is 

 given into the charge of a boy, whose business it is to 

 be continually repeating the airs the bird has learnt, 

 to him. Some Bullfinches are able only to learn one 

 tune thoroughly ; others will acquire two or three quite 

 accurately, but they will generally require to have their 

 memory refreshed by their repetition, when they have 



