84 THE FEATHERS. 



wild spot near Ruthin, where there were few trees 

 affording shelter for others. The attention of the 

 tenant on the farm was soon attracted by the singular 

 appearance of two white young ones, and, to his 

 surprise, for three or four years the same phenomenon 

 occurred, two white Rooks being the invariable and 

 sole nursery establishment of this solitary sable pair 

 of old birds. This year (1837) the young ones 

 were taken and reared. A change of plumage has 

 also been observed to take place occasionally by 

 limiting the bird to a particular sort of food; thus, 

 bird-catchers say, that by the use of hemp-seed, 

 Bullfinches and some other kinds of birds will fre- 

 quently assume a darker colour. Fright, again, (as 

 in the case of human beings, whose hair has been 

 known to change under great excitement or alarm,) 

 it is said, will produce similar effects on birds; in 

 proof of which, we have been assured on the au- 

 thority of a friend, that a Bullfinch in his possession 

 turned black in a few hours after having been terri- 

 fied by the approach and attack of a cat upon its 

 cage. 



