Finches. 1 7 1 



character sometimes given them of being wild and 

 vicious. All birds are disposed to be pugnacious at 

 the breeding season, and it may not be safe to turn 

 more than one pair into an aviary, but they are evi- 

 dently capable of great attachment both to each 

 other and to human beings, and they will well repay 

 their owners for any care and attention bestowed on 

 them. They are shy as well as sensitive, and many 

 dislike strangers, and take extraordinary likes and 

 dislikes both to people and other birds. My bird 

 is generally very much pleased to be in the neigh- 

 bourhood of other birds, and will sulk if taken away 

 from them ; but he took an unaccountable dislike to 

 my German Canary, hissed and pouted when he was 

 put near him, and showed unmistakeable signs of 

 anger when any attention was paid to him^perhaps he 

 was jealous of his song), and I should not have liked 

 to put him within reach of his powerful beak. He is 

 also capricious about his food, and one day will not 

 eat what he greedily devours the next. He is very 

 fond of dried currants when soaked (if given to him dry 

 he immediately drops them into his water-glass), and 

 of the Hartz Mountain bread, and his greatest treat 

 seems to be a ripe chili-pod. He also expects to be 

 helped to every fly or spider that appears in the 

 window. 



These birds will breed without much difficulty in 

 any quiet place, either in an aviary or large cage, if 



