TAME AND FAMILIAR. 



239 



taken to prevent its finding it easily, it would snow its joy 

 by its actions and cries. 



Buffon relates that Bullfinches which have escaped from 

 their aviary and have lived at liberty in the woods for a 

 whole year, have recollected the voice of the person who 

 reared them, and have returned at his call to their former 

 homes. A lady who had been a severe sufferer for many 

 years, found in a tame bird of this species a constant and 

 faithful companion, who really seemed to understand and 

 sympathise with her sufferings. The following account of 

 the familiarity and sagacity of the bird is from the pen of a 

 clergyman 



My poor Bullfinch was remarkably tame and familiar. I was 

 accustomed to open his cage at breakfast time, and if from any cause 

 I failed to do so, he made me understand by his actions that he con- 

 sidered himself badly used. When set at liberty he flew to the table, 

 and picked up the crumbs that chanced to be lying upon it, or received 

 a piece of loaf-sugar, of which he was very fond, from my hand ; he 

 would also take food from my mouth, and sometimes he presumed so 

 much, and was so impertinent, that I was compelled to drive him off. 

 He one day observed himself reflected in the polished surface of a 

 steel lock attached to a writing case, which excited his anger, and it 

 was most amusing to see how he erected his plumage, and hissed de- 

 fiance at his own image, and ever after, when allowed to leave his 

 cage, he sought this lock for the sake of quarrelling with himself. 

 It afterwards occurred to me to try the effect of a looking glass upon 

 him, and it was interesting to observe that when he had vented his 

 rage, he hopped to the back of the glass, and not finding the object 

 of his search there, he returned to the front, evidently puzzled to ac- 

 count for the deception. After this the poor fellow often went through 

 his exercises before the lock and the glass for the edification of my 

 friends. I kept this very intelligent bird for two years, and he died 

 of, I believe, apoplexy, in consequence of a too liberal supply of hemp- 

 seed, of which he was very fond. 



Many other anecdotes of the like nature might be quoted 

 of this bird, but the above will suffice to show that his cha- 

 racter for docility and intelligence has not been overrated. 



THE PINE BULLFINCH (Pyrrliula enudeator), sometimes 

 called the Pine Grosbeak, or Greater Bullfinch. The 

 length of this bird is eight inches and a half; consequently, 

 it is the largest of the Passerine family. It is a handsome 

 bird, having the head, neck, forepart of the breast and rump 



