Occupants of an Aviary. 95 



than twenty birds. These have been put in three or 

 four at a time, and I always took care that they were 

 tolerably quiet before they were put in. There are 

 Canaries, Bullfinches, charming little Linnets, a 

 pretty Greenfinch, and an audacious little bird between 

 a Linnet and Canary who gives more trouble in 

 keeping peace than all the others together. The 

 rest of the party consists of Goldfinches, and very 

 pretty they look roosting in a long row with the 

 Linnets, seven in a line. 



5. The cage at night stands in a passage, and is. 

 covered well over with a woollen table-cloth. In the 

 day it stands in a window of my sitting-room on the 

 top of a plant case. A bath, glazed at the top and 

 three sides, is hooked upon the door, the amusement 

 of which is indescribable. Birds emerge jft intervals 

 in parties of two or three, and go afterwards to " hang 

 themselves out to dry " on the sunniest perch or in 

 the swing, looking most wobegone. I have seen two* 

 of these half-drowned creatures hanging out in the 

 swing together. The toilette that concludes the 

 business is very elaborate, and it is most amusing to 

 see the little Grey-pates, who want to have credit 

 for washing but do not like the cold, how they put in 

 one leg and pull it out again, and finally perch just 

 upon the edge while somebody else is washing, to 

 catch the shower sent up so vigorously. And then 

 the little cheat shakes itself out, makes an immense 



