256 THE BULLFINCH AND GREEN BIRD. 



Linnet was really a wonderful little creature. Birds often acquire 

 astonishing tricks ; but they perform them in a mechanical manner 

 like automatons. Our Green Linnet, however, in all his actions, 

 seemed to be regulated by something approaching to reason. We 

 used sometimes to let these birds out of their cages altogether in a 

 room at one time. The Green Linnet paid no marked attention to any 

 of them, except the Bullfinch, unless when the birds were fighting ; 

 and even then merely to put an end to their quarrel, and punish the 

 aggressor. It was a strong, powerful, and spirited bird, but no bully 

 not in the least quarrelsome. It submitted to the petty insults of 

 the Mule-birds, &c. with great magnanimity and temper, affording a 

 beautiful lesson to hot-headed silly-minded man. The Green Linnet 

 paid little attention to the other birds ; all his caro seemed centred 

 in his. friend the Bullfinch. 'Green Dick* and 'Davie,' the names 

 of these friends (and they knew their names by always coming when 

 called), continually singled out each other. Green Dick would fol- 

 low Davie all round the room ; if Davie stopped, Green Dick made 

 a peck, and sometimes a jerk, as if to make him move onward, or to 

 start him. If Green Dick succeeded he appeared delighted play 

 evidently being his object. If Green Dick was feeding in any of the 

 cages, and Davie was attacked by any of the other birds, Green Dick 

 instantly flew to his friend, and drove off the assailants. However, 

 we remarked, he never used his bill, but pushed the aggressors away 

 with his breast, as if afraid of hurting them. Green Dick knew each 

 individual of the family in the house quite well ; but was attached to 

 one in particular. He would go to her in preference to any one else. 

 If she went into the room where his cage hung, he welcomed her by 

 punching up his feathers in a particular manner, and by a cheerful 

 note, which he used to none of the other members of the family. If she 

 advanced to the cage, closed her hands and raised or put them forward 

 as if to hit him, he showed no alarm, but sprang forward to meet her, 

 and appeared quite pleased ; if she put her finger between the wires, 

 and drew it quickly back, as if frightened, he was highly delighted; 

 but if she allowed her finger to remain for him to peck at, he drew 

 his feathers close to his body, and seemed greatly disappointed. If 

 she went into the room in a hurry, to fetch anything, without pay- 

 ing the accustomed attention to him, he took the pet, drew himself 

 up, and clapped his feathers to his body, and, though she went to 

 him in the hope of reconciliation before leaving the apartment, he 

 would take no notice of her. But a little after, if she returned, the 

 coldness was all forgotten, and he welcomed her as before. At the 

 end of nearly five years, Davie, the Bullfinch, died, during the night. 

 The next morning Green Dick missed him, for (as we have already 

 remarked) the cages hung opposite to each other at the same window. 

 He uttered a wailing note all that day ; the following he was appa- 

 rently unwell, he put his head under his wing, and had no food. At 

 the same time his favourite in the family was ill : he was brought to 

 her bed knew her voice, drew his head from under his little wing, 



