Birds to Keep. 11 



also easily tamed and very funny in their naughty 

 doings, poking in their heads wherever they are not 

 wanted, while no one need dwell on the sweetness of 

 their note. They are clean birds, and much enjoy a 

 good bath. I have a cage with five Linnets and a 

 Chaffinch, which afford me much amusement, and 

 they agree very well together. 



11. The Chaffinch, in an aviary, seems generally 

 looked down upon ; and yet, I can see no reason why 

 this should be, or for the expression, " only a 

 common chaffinch." In Germany and France these 

 lively, active birds are extremely popular; and in 

 England it seems to me that only those who have 

 never tried them, continue to despise them. 



They are very clean birds, always pluming and 

 pruning themselves, and their sharp call as they 

 hop about, is very sweet, though shrill. Their song 

 in England is not much thought of, but Bechstein 

 preferred them to all other cage birds, and I should 

 certainly recommend them as an addition to any 

 aviary. For a single bird, too, a Chaffinch is easily 

 managed, and is a very affectionate, clever little 

 fellow. Square cages in this case are a good deal 

 used for them, but they like best to have a good 

 space to hop along. However, for single cages I 

 know not whether Goldfinches, Chaffinches or Bull- 

 finches, really are the nicest. 



12. Bullfinches are very nice birds to have, they 



