PIPING BULLFINCHES. 219 



into the room, and they are allowed a small supply of food. 

 By degrees, the sound of the organ, and the circumstance of 

 being fed, become so associated that the hungry bird is sure to 

 imitate the notes as soon as it hears them. They are then 

 turned over to the care of boys, whose sole business it is to go 

 on with their education, each boy having a separate bird placed 

 under his charge, who plays away from morning to night, or at 

 least for as many hours as the birds can pay attention, during 

 which time their first teacher or feeder goes his regular rounds, 

 scolding or rewarding his feathered scholars, by signs and modes 

 which he has taught them to understand, till they become so 

 perfect, and the tune, whatever it may be, so imprinted on 

 their memory, that they will pipe it for the remainder of their 

 lives. But though the greater number may be taught their 

 tune, few only, not above five in a hundred, possibly, can be 

 so correctly taught as to pipe in perfect harmony ; and these, 

 of course, fetch a much higher price than the rest. 



Whether from the early habit of associating the utterance of 

 their notes with the agreeable addition of a meal, or from some 

 particular pleasure they feel in singing, we know not, but it so 

 happens that singing and satisfaction generally go together in 

 Bullfinches ; for a bird attached to any particular individuals 

 in a family will always express delight when they approach, and 

 greet them with his well-known air, hopping towards them on 

 his perch, and practising all his little coaxing ways. An in- 

 teresting story was once told by Sir William Parsons, who was 

 himself a great musician, and who, when a young man, possessed 

 a Piping Bullfinch, which he had taught to sing " God save the 

 King." On his once going abroad he gave his favourite in 

 charge to a sister, with a strict injunction to take the greatest 

 care of it. On his return, one of his first visits was to her, 

 when she told him that the poor little bird had been long in 

 declining health, and was at that moment very ill. Sir William, 

 full of sorrow, went into the room where the cage was, and, 

 opening the door, put in his hand and spoke to the bird. The 

 bird remembered his voice, opened its eyes, shook its feathers, 

 staggered on to his finger, piped " God save the King," and fell 

 dead ! 



