PIPING BULLFINCHES. 17 



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 rewarding his feathered 

 scholars, by signs and modes which he has taught 

 them to understand, until they become so perfect, 

 and the tune, whatever it may be, so imprinted on 

 their memory, that they will pipe it for the remain- 

 der 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 ahvays express delight 

 when they approach, and greet them with his well- 

 known air, hopping towards them on his perch, and 

 practising all his little coaxing ways. An interesting 

 story was once told by Sir William Parsons, who was 



VOL. II. c 



