244 TBRTEBEATEB. 



caution, sparro-ws will mingle with domesticated fo^Is, ind paitake 

 freely and confidently of the food thrown out to them. 



The Yellow Hammer, or TeUow Bunting, is a very deli- 

 cately marked little bird, very common in our hedges, where it 

 flits before the traveller, always keeping about twenty yards in 

 front. It makes its nest on the ground, and lays five eggs curiously 

 scribbled over with dark chocolate lines, just as if a child had been 

 trying to write Arabic on the eggs. 



■ The nest is made on the ground, frequently in the print of 

 a horse's foot, and contains five eggs of a greenish-white, thickly 

 spotted with brown. There are generally two broods in the year, 

 one in May, and the other in July or August. 



The Bullfinch is a singular instance of the power of art 

 on the song of birds. The natural note of the Bullfinch is low, 

 and can only be heard at a short distance ; but when well trained 

 the bird whistles, or " pipes," as it is called, any melody which 

 has been taught it, in a fine flute-like tone. A good piping Bull- 

 finch sells at a very high price. The method of teaching is to 

 confine the birds in a dark room, and, before their food is given, 

 to play the air that they have to learn, on an instrument called a 

 bird-organ. The birds soon begin to imitate the notes, and by 

 degrees the whole tune is learned. Some trainers substitute a 

 small clarionet for the bird-organ. 



When in captivity the Bullfinch is very sociable, and soon 

 learns to know his owners, and to come to them if called. The 

 nest is built on the branches of a fir-tree. The eggs are bluish; 

 white, spotted with red. 



A lady opening her window, saw a bullfinch sitting on the 

 gill. To her surprise the bird did not fly away, but suffered itself 

 to be taken and carried into the room. When placed on the table 

 it still sat quiet, but looked as if it were suffering from illness. 

 On examination, a seed was found to be fixed in the bird's throat. 

 This was quickly removed with a needle, and the bird became 

 quite lively. It, however, soon met with a tragical end, for while 

 a cage was being prepared for its reception, it escaped from the 



