312 WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIRDS. 



He had been the most obdurate tormenter of my Bullfinch 

 in his own proud way butj when he was dead, when he 

 could no longer resent his quiet assaults, then he mourned as 

 deeply as we his cry became distressing, and ever since he 

 has been still and gentle, coming nearer to me, as if he felt 

 that we too missed his dead comrade, and as if we too were 

 exiles from some far away home 



Once I had the skin of a Painted Finch of full plumage 

 he recognized it instantly as a countryman flew down to 

 greet it with the most delicate and plaintive chirpings, his 

 wings rapidly flitting in short movements, his whole soul 

 beaming in ecstasy from his eye his figure crouching and 

 thrown into curves, all expressing the tender joy which filled 

 his bosom at thus meeting so suddenly a countryman, who 

 had come too in such splendor of costume. 



He, poor fellow, had yet to wait many months before he 

 could hope to complete an entire change in his own dress be- 

 neath the chary rays of the far away sun of the North. 



But he thought not of this, he saw only here, one of his 

 kindred, one who had sung many a midday hour from the 

 topmost branches of some orange tree, with his feathers 

 loosely spread to the warm sunbeams while he sung dream- 

 ily in the intervals of his naps, anon bursting forth into 

 clear, shrill notes of defiance, as the voice of a dreamed of 

 rival crept into his slumbrous fancy. 



He saw here only one exiled like himself, and his heart 

 was filled with sympathy and love he came to his side he 

 pecked gently at his feathers. Ah, what! he will not re- 

 spond. Poor disappointed Finch. See how he draws his 

 figure up to its utmost height, and gazes at the motionless 

 shape before him. Now he gives a quick thrust with his 

 bill, and uttering a short, shrill note, perches silently in a 

 corner of his cage. 



He will not look again at this deceptive emblem of 

 hope and home his disgust is inexpressible he thought 

 to take to his heart an embodiment of all the past he had 



