AN ACCOMPLISHED SINGER. 237 



Bechstein describes the song of the Bullfinch in a wild 

 state as ' harsh and disagreeable ;' but it is by no means 

 so ; on the contrary, the terms l soft and mellow ' more 

 aptly describe it, as those who have taken much pains to 

 come within hearing of it can testify. It is low and with- 

 out much compass, and only to be heard by a very cautious 

 approach. The listener can best effect his object by lying 

 down among the long grass in the vicinity of a nest. If, 

 concealed by the herbage, he remains perfectly still for 

 awhile, the birds will probably come to the top of the 

 bushes, and the male will utter his amorous song of connu- 

 bial bliss ; but the slightest stir will suffice to stop it, and 

 send the birds away to a more secure covert. 



But if its natural song be weak and poor, yet has the 

 Bullfinch, when tamed, a surprising power of acquiring 

 distinct tunes, and hence it is made an object of a consi- 

 derable lucrative trade. Large numbers of i piping Bull- 

 finches ' as they are called, are commonly exported from 

 Germany to England, and all parts of the Continent. These 

 accomplished birds fetch from one to several pounds each, 

 according to their vocal ability, while a wild bird of the 

 same species may be bought for a few pence. Dr. Stanley 

 has w r ell described a training school for Bullfinches, which 

 are formed into classes of about six each, and kept in a 

 dark room, where food and music are administered to them 

 at the same time, so that feeding and singing become 

 naturally associated in their memories, and they learn to 

 imitate the tune they hear played or whistled, as a proper 

 sequence to the meal whioh they enjoy. In some schools 

 the starving system is adopted ; it is with the feathered 

 pupils 4 no song no supper,' and every attempt at singing 

 is rewarded with a mouthful of something nice. When a 

 bird has made some proficiency in the utterance of musical 

 notes, he is placed singly under the care of a boy whose 

 duty it is to play on an organ, or to whistle, from morning to 

 night, the particular tune which the Finch is to acquire ; 

 and this course of instruction goes on for nine months, by 

 which time the bird has acquired firmness, and is not 

 likely to forget the lesson taught. Generally this is but a 

 simple tune, but some clever birds are able to whistle two 



