314 WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIEDS. 



the Bullfinch, which I cannot forego the pleasure of present- 

 ing. He says : 



" Although the song of the male and female Bullfinch, 

 in their wild state, is very harsh and disagreeable, yet if well 

 taught while young, as they are in Hesse and Fulda, where 

 there are schools of these little musicians for all Germany, 

 Holland and England, they learn to whistle all kinds of airs and 

 melodies with so soft and flute-like a tone, that they are great 

 favorites with amateurs, and particularly with the ladies. 

 There are some of these little birds which can whistle dis- 

 tinctly three different airs, without spoiling or confusing 

 them in the least. Added to this attraction, the Bullfinch 

 becomes exceedingly tame, sings whenever it is told to do 

 so, and is susceptible of a most tender and lasting attach- 

 ment, which is shown by its endearing actions ; it balances 

 its body, moves its tail from right to left, and spreads it like 

 a fan. It will even repeat words with an accent and tone 

 which indicate sensibility, if one could believe that it under- 

 stood them ; but its memory must not be overloaded. A 

 single air, with a prelude or a short flourish to begin with, is 

 as much as the bird can learn and remember, and this it will 

 execute to the greatest perfection. These little prodigies 

 would be more interesting and agreeable if their Hessian 

 instructors possessed a little more musical taste, but these 

 are generally tradespeople, employed about the house with 

 their different occupations and trades; and by tunes, airs and 

 minuets of a hundred years old, public-house songs, or some 

 learnt of their apprentices, in general compose the whole of 

 their music." 



Tame Bullfinches have been known (says Buffon) to es- 

 cape from the aviary, and live at liberty in the woods for a 

 whole year, and then to recollect the voice of the person 

 who had reared them, return to her, never more to leave her. 

 Others have been known, which, when forced to leave their 

 first master, have died of grief. These little birds remember 

 very well, and often too well, any one who has injured them. 



