134 THE BULLFINCH. 



ferent character. He would begin his little song, 

 his head and tail keeping a sidelong motion to 

 the tune : he would sit on her shoulder, and rub 

 himself against her neck or face, as if he scarce- 

 ly knew how to show all the fondness he felt for 

 her. Sometimes the mere sound of Anne's voice 

 would impel him to renew his hostile attacks on 

 her; and leaving Mary, he would fly again to 

 Anne, and bite her like a little fury. 



Many attempts were made to deceive him by 

 the sisters changing seats, but he quickly disco- 

 vered the imposition. The only thing which 

 ever deceived him, was when Mary threw a hand- 

 kerchief over her head : he then, for a moment, 

 mistook her for a stranger. 



From some cause, perhaps from his leading a 

 life unsuited to his nature, his claws were very 

 much diseased. They became more so at every 

 moulting season ; so that at last all the claws on 

 one leg were entirely gone, and those on the 

 other so much mutilated that he could no longer 

 grasp his perch. He was therefore obliged to 

 remain on the floor of his cage, a situation which 

 could not fail to be uncomfortable to him. Still, 

 in other respects, he appeared to be in perfect 

 health ; and the beautiful state of his plumage, 

 always bright and smooth, not a single feather 

 ruffled, was a proof of this. In all probability 



