THE BULLFINCH. 95 



which would be doubly vexatious after having had much trouble in teach- 

 ing them. 



DISEASES. Those bullfinches which are caught in a snare or net arc 

 rarely ill, and maybe preserved for eight years or more; but those reared 

 from the nest are subject to many diseases, caused by their not having 

 their natural food, or by those injurious delicacies which are always lavished 

 jn favouiite birds; they rarely live more than six years. The surest 

 means of preserving them healthy for a long time, is to give them neither 

 sweets nor tit-bits of any kind, scrupulously to confine their food to rape 

 seed, adding now and then a very little hemp seed to please them, and a good 

 deal of the green food before mentioned. The bottom of their cages should 

 be covered with river sand, as the bird there finds some stones which aid 

 the functions of the stomach. Their most frequent diseases are moulting, 

 costiveness, diarrhoea, epilepsy, grief, and melancholy, in which case they 

 are quite silent, and remain immoveable, unless the cause can be discovered. 

 They must not be given any delicacy, and must be fed entirely on soaked 

 rape seed. A clove in their water, proper food, and particularly a good deal 

 of refreshing green food, enables them to pass the moulting time in good 

 health. 



MODE OF TAKING. There are few birds so easily attracted by the decoy 

 bird as bullfinches. They may also be taken by any of the usual means. 

 In winter numbers may he caught by a noose, by hanging to it such berries 

 as the bird likes; in spring and autumn they may be caught in the area or 

 barn floor trap ; and provided they see berries there, the decoy bird is not 

 wanted; it is sufficient if one imitates their soft cry of " tui, tui," in 

 the hut. 



ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES. 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 favourites with amateurs, and particularly with the 

 ladies. There are some of these little birds which can whistle distinctly 

 three different airs, without spoiling or confusing them in the least. Added 

 to this attraction the bullfinch becomes exceedingly tame, sings whenevei 

 it is told to do so, and is susceptible of a most tender and lasting attach- 

 ment, which it shows 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 indicates sensibility, if one could 

 believe that it understood 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 musical taste, but these are 

 generally tradespeople, employed about the house with their different 

 occupations and trades ; and hymns, airs, and minuets of a hundred years 

 old, public house songs, or some learnt of their apprentices, in general com- 

 pose the whole of their music. 



