PERCHING BIRDS. 191 



tion, is a capital scare-bulfinch," but the droll 

 warning is added, that it will be found useless 

 to exercise ingenuity in making the cat look un- 

 naturally horrible; for the birds are up to that 

 trick, and pay no regard to a monster. So the 

 nearer to nature, the better the scare-bully. 



These birds breed rather late in the season. 

 They are much attached to each other and their 

 young, and it is believed they pair for life. 



Bulfinches are much prized as cage-birds ; in 

 consequence of the readiness with which they 

 learn to whistle musical airs; and their powers 

 of memory, when well educated, and carefully 

 attended to. 



The mode of teaching and training them, is 

 given, very fully, in " Bechstein's Cage Birds." 

 The instruction should commence veiy early, and 

 it is found the birds learn best just after eating. 

 " The good and pure whistling of a man of taste," 

 is preferable to any instrument that can be used. 

 As the bird imitates exactly the sounds he hears, 

 it is necessary to be perfectly accurate and in 

 good tune. When one cannot whistle well the 

 use of the flageolet is recommended in preference 

 to other instruments. A single air is as much, 

 generally, as the bird can learn and remember ; but 

 Bechstein, while he says this, adds that some can 

 whistle distinctly three different airs, without con- 



