THE PET FINCHES. 315 



One of them, having been thrown down with its cage, by 

 some of the lowest order of the people, did not seem at first 

 much disturbed by it, but afterwards it would fall into 

 convulsions as soon as it saw any shabbily-dressed person, 

 and it died in one of these fits eight months after the first 

 accident. A Bullfinch, belonging to a lady often mentioned 

 before, being subject to very frightful dreams, which 

 made it fall from its perch, and beat itself in the cage, no 

 sooner heard the affectionate voice of its mistress, than, not- 

 withstanding the darkness of the night, it became imme- 

 diately tranquil, and re- ascended its perch to sleep again. It 

 was very fond of chickweed, and as soon as it perceived one 

 bringing it to him, however much care was taken to prevent 

 its finding it easily, it would show its joy by its actions and 

 cries. 



Concerning our little warlike Southron, the Painted Finch 

 or Nonpareil, Mr. Audubon has some highly attractive pas- 

 sages. He says : 



" The flight of the Pape, by which the Creoles of Louisiana 

 know this bird best, is short, although regular, and performed 

 by a nearly constant motion of the wings, which is rendered 

 necessary by their concave form. It hops on the ground, 

 moving forward with ease, now and then jetting out the tail 

 a little, and, like a true Sparrow, picking up and carrying off 

 a grain of rice or a crumb of bread to some distance where 

 it may eat in more security. It has a sprightly song, often 

 repeated, which it continues even when closely confined. 

 When the bird is at liberty, this song is uttered from the top 

 branches of an orange tree, or those of a common briar ; and 

 although not so sonorous as that of the Canary, or of its 

 nearer relative, the Indigo Bunting, is not far from equalling 

 either. Its song is continued during the greatest heats of the 

 day, which is also the case with that of the Indigo Bird. 



" About the middle of April, the orange groves of the lower 

 parts of Louisiana, and more especially those in the imme- 

 diate vicinity of the city of New Orleans, are abundantly 



