PIPING BULLFINCHES. 223 



expiration of about a couple of months they first begin to 

 whistle, from which time their education begins; and no 

 school can be more diligently superintended by its master, 

 and no scholars more effectually trained to their own calling, 

 than a seminary of Bullfinches. They are formed first into 

 classes of about six in each and after having been kept 

 a longer time than usual without food, and confined in a dark 

 room, the tune they are to learn is played over and over again 

 on a little instrument called a bird-organ, the notes of which 

 resemble as nearly as possible those of the Bullfinch. For a 

 time, perhaps, the moping birds will sit in silence, not knowing 

 what to make of these proceedings, but after a while they will 

 one by one begin to imitate the notes they hear. As soon as 

 they do this, light is admitted into the room, and they are 

 allowed a small supply of food. By degrees, the sound of the 

 organ, and the circumstance of being fed, become so associated 

 that the hungry bird is sure to imitate the notes as soon as it 

 hears them. They are then turned over to the care of boys, 

 whose sole business it is to go on with their education, each 

 boy having a separate bird placed under his charge, who plays 

 away from morning to night, or at least for as many hours 

 as the birds can pay attention, during which time their first 

 teacher or feeder goes his regular rounds, scolding or reward- 

 ing his feathered scholars, by signs and modes which he has 

 taught them to understand, till they become so perfect, and 

 the tune, whatever it may be, so imprinted on their memory, 

 that they will pipe it for the remainder of their lives. But 

 though the greater number may be taught their tune, few 

 only, not above five in a hundred, possibly, can be so correctly 

 taught as to pipe in perfect harmony ; and these, of course, 

 fetch a much higher price than the rest. 



Whether from the early habit of associating the utterance 

 of their notes with the agreeable addition of a meal, or from 

 some particular pleasure they feel in singing, we know not, 

 but it so happens that singing and satisfaction generally go 

 together in Bullfinches ; for a bird attached to any particular 

 individuals in a family, will always express delight when they 

 approach, and greet them with his well-known air, hopping 



