134 THE BULLFINCH 



which set off all the more the red tint of the throat, the 

 chest and the top of the stomach ; the nape of the neck and 

 the back had ash-coloured tints, which contrasted beauti- 

 fully with the light purple, red spotted wings and the 

 dark purple of the large tail feathers. 



It was of a merry mood and had the most remarkable 

 musical aptitude. Left in freedom, the bullfinch is only 

 an ordinary singer. Il lias hardly more than three notes : 

 a very pure whistle, then a rather hoarse warble, dege- 

 nerating into a falsetto ; but llic honest peasant who had 

 undertaken the training of my particular bird, had suc- 

 ceeded, hv (lint of patience, in teaching it softer and more 

 varied sounds. Mv bullfinch gave a penetrating accent to 

 its short musical phrases, a certain softened expression, 

 which charmed my solitude and made it dear to me. The 

 winter was very severe. The snow would diift against the 

 windows and settle there in white mounds ; at other times, 

 tiie west wind and rain storms would beat furiously 

 against the doors and windows of my dwelling. Neither 

 the bullfinch nor I cared for the inclemency of the season. 

 A blight fwc was ciackling in the fire jilace ; 1 had an 

 ample sup|)lv of iii((Mesting books ; mv friend had abun- 

 dance of hcmpsccd, salad and biscuits ; we spent happy 

 days indeed in our small study, with its smoky cross- 

 beams and its white-washed walls. 



Excepting at bed-time or at night, my companion 

 never remained shut up in its cage. The door of its 



