554 FRINGILLIDJE. 



for hours, pecking and playing with my cuff, if permitted. 

 It had perfect liberty to go out of doors, and occasionally 

 flew out of the window and returned ; sometimes sitting 

 on my finger when I walked in the garden. On one 

 occasion it remained out all night, returning at break of 

 day to my room, the window of which was open to receive 

 it, and, after waiting to be noticed on my awakening, took 

 another flight of some hours. It was his delight, whilst I 

 was dressing, to play with my hair, and he has often fallen 

 into the hand-basin whilst I was washing. I regularly 

 went into my sister's room after breakfast with the bird, 

 and it would often fly before me to her room, as if con- 

 scious where it was to go. It was impatient in a cage, and 

 troublesome out, as it was impossible to work or read in 

 quiet. A needle or ring was a very favourite plaything ; as 

 soon as it had obtained either of them, it would fly round 

 and round the room in triumph. It attached itself, I think, 

 more particularly to me, although my sister was equally 

 fond of it. It was perfectly tractable, and would go any- 

 where, even into its prison house, if taken on the finger. 

 It took a dislike to Mamma, I believe, because she often 

 caught it and put it in the cage, whilst it would go in 

 voluntarily for me at any time. On my return from 

 France, it appeared to have forgotten its old mistress ; and 

 on my opening the cage, instead of flying instantly on my 

 finger, it sat still for a long time, and when urged out, 

 flew immediately out of the window to a tree, and all 

 our calling, contrary to former custom, was disregarded : 

 it was Sunday, and the tree stood close to the church. 

 I fear some boys hunted it, and as the cat came from 

 under the same tree in the evening, I fear she surprised 

 our interesting favourite. I have but one thing more to 

 add : it was most destructive to plants in the room, not 

 pulling off the leaves, but applying its bill to the stems, 



