THE BULLFINCH. 321 



by which time the bird has become so accustomed 

 to the airs which it has to perform, as to sing them 

 without mistake. Sometimes during the moulting 

 season, however, the poor little songster's memory 

 fails, and all the trouble bestowed on its education 

 becomes perfectly useless. Some birds are taught 

 by these methods to whistle three distinct airs, but 

 there are few which can do more than execute a 

 simple air, with perhaps some few notes as a 

 prelude. 



But besides these acquired songs, the bullfinch 

 has many winning ways in captivity, and seems 

 well to comprehend the wishes of its possessor. 

 The writer once was accustomed to see a bull- 

 finch, which would usually sing at the bidding of 

 its mistress, unless strangers were in the room, 

 when it would persist in silence. Sometimes, after 

 a great deal of coaxing the bird would begin ; but 

 it seemed to have a mischievous pleasure in making 

 the audience wait; and would, after uttering the 

 prelude, again relapse into silence. When in very 

 obstinate moods, it would require from its mistress 

 some further inducement than mere caresses and 

 persuasions before commencing ; but on her fetch- 

 ing some little branch of a tree, or even a straw, 



Y 



