66S APPENDIX. 



not only be prepared with great attention, but 

 given in very fmall portions at a time. 



Though I mn ft admit, therefore, that I havje 

 never reared myfelf a bird of fo tender an age, yet 

 I have happened to fee both a linnet and a gold- 

 finch which were taken from their nefts when only 

 two or three days old. 



The fir ft of thefe belonged to Mr. Matthews, 

 an apothecary at Kenfengton, which, from a want 

 of other founds to imitate, almoft articulated the 

 words pretty boy, as well as fome other fhort fen- 

 tences : I heard the bird myfelf repeat the words 

 pretty boy -, and Mr. Matthews allured me, that he 

 had neither the note or call of any bird whatfoe- 

 ver. 



This talking linnet died laft year, before which, 

 many people went from London to hear him fpeak. 



The goldfinch I have before mentioned, was 

 reared in the town of Knighton in Radnor/hire, 

 which I happened to hear, as I was walking by 

 the houfe where it was kept. 



1 thought indeed that a wren was finging; and I 

 went into the houfe to inquire after it, as that little 

 bird feldom lives long in a cage. 



The people of the houfe, however, told me, that 

 they had no bird but a goldfinch, which they con- 

 ceived to fing its own natural note, as they called 

 it i upon which I ftaid a confiderable time in the 

 room, whilft its notes were merely thofe of a 



;;/. without the lead mixture of goldfinch. 



On 



