36 Song Birds. 



amusing than graceful. Its own note, too, I confess, 

 is not of the most musical. Still, putting aside the 

 sweetness of its acquired song, I hardly know any 

 bird I had not sooner miss than Bully, there is some- 

 thing so taking in its engaging ways. 



The Bullfinch seems to be also one of the few 

 birds which may be brought indoors when old, and 

 maxle really happy, more as a visitor than as a 

 prisoner. If the old birds are caught in the winter 

 time when they are wanting food, they will very 

 quickly become extremely tame ; and then, when 

 spring returns, they may often be trained to come and 

 go in and out of the house, and to hop about their 

 mistress on the lawn, ruffling up their feathers, and 

 talking and sidling in a most taking manner. Even 

 should one be allowed to build out of doors, the 

 intimacy need not cease, as a Bullfinch has been 

 often known to return after a short absence, bringing 

 with her a fine young brood to be introduced to their 

 mamma's old friends. At the same time these birds 

 seem perfectly at home when kept entirely indoors, and 

 are well contented as long as they have company. 



"When one wants to train a bird to be an accom- 

 plished singer, it is a great point to remove it when 

 extremely young from the nest, before it acquires any 

 of the old bird's notes. The food in this case should 

 be of bread on which boiling water has been poured 

 and pressed off, milk being then added and a little 



