7



Early in winter, the travelling collector of Piping

Bullfinches and German Canaries makes his appearance and

purchases all he can get at his price ; the birds are transferred

to the well-known wicker cages in which we see them later,

exposed for sale in our large towns and cities.


Given a family of nestlings in good health, a bird organ,

and the patience to turn the handle for half-an-hour every

morning and afternoon, I do not see why our native “ Bullies”

should not be trained in this country with satisfactory results ;

perhaps it is being done, but I cannot say that English Pipers

have come under my notice.


Bullfinches are getting less abundant in this country than

formerly. No doubt the ready sale they find at comparatively

high prices, causes a great many of them to be deprived of liberty.

Even under the most favorable circumstances, Bullfinches cannot

be said to be endowed with longevity; three years of cage life is

rarely exceeded, after wdiich period their arch-enemy, asthma, is

very liable to seize them. Incorrect treatment and draughts

carry off a great many before they reach even that age. The

bright tints and glossy black become dulled, and the head

feathers fall out, if the bird is not properly treated; whereas, a

clean house, a bath, sound and varied food in which greenmeat

and fruit figure proportionately, will keep him in excellent

plumage and health. Imported birds do well on German rape

seed, with a daily allowance of about twenty hemp seeds ; but

some juicy dainties should not be omitted.


In the aviary, one or a pair of Bullfinches will be found

ornamental and amusing; they make a great show of affedtion,

carrying feathers, etc., for building, and the female wall lay a few

eggs, but there it mostly stops; breeding Bullfinches in confine¬

ment is a thankless task. On the other hand, they should be

watched from time to time, to make sure that they do no harm to

the other occupants of their habitation. Not all, but most of those

I have thus kept, have ended by suddenly taking a dislike to

some unoffending Finch or Canary, and from that moment there

was no peace until one or the other was removed. A strong

cock Bullfinch can do some mischief in the limited space of

wood and wire, but in such a dilemma the judicious partial

clipping of the wings would be justifiable, as it is not always

convenient to shut him up separate!}'.



