322 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



or piece of thread, the bird would whistle its air 

 sweetly and loudly, then pause and peck the hand 

 of its mistress as if to claim its reward. Buffon 

 says that tame bullfinches Avhich have escaped 

 fi'om the aviary, and lived for a year at liberty in 

 the woods, have been known to return to the mis- 

 tress who had petted them, and never again to 

 leave her ; while others, w^hen forced to leave their 

 master, have pined and died of grief. A bull- 

 finch, too, which was much attached to its owner, 

 was subject to frightful dreams, under the influ- 

 ence of which it would fall from its perch, and dash 

 itself against its cage. But no sooner did it hear 

 the soothing tones which its master would address 

 to it, than it returned to its perch and to its sleep 

 in confidence and happiness. Bechstein says that 

 a bullfinch may be trusted to go awhile to the 

 woods, and come back again ; and that, especially 

 if its mate be left behind, the affectionate bird ^vill 

 assuredly return. If unkindly treated, or roughly 

 handled, it will die suddenly, or fall into fits. Sir 

 William Parsons records a most remarkable in- 

 stance of its attachment. He had one of these 

 birds which he had taught to whistle " God save 

 the King." He went abroad, leaving this bird 



