33 6 OF THE SMALL BIRDS OF FLIGHT. 



Another particular we learned, in converfation with 

 a London bird-catcher, was the vaft price that isfome- 

 times given for a finglefong bird, which had not learned 

 to whittle tunes. The greateft fum we heard of, was 

 five guineas for a chaffinch, that had a particular and 

 uncommon note, under which it was intended to 

 train others : and we alio heard of five pounds ten 

 Shillings being given for a call-bird linnet. 



A third fingular circumftance, which confirms the 

 obfervation of IMnaUs\ is, that the male chaffinches 

 fly by themfelves, and in the flight precede the females; 

 but this is not peculiar to the chaffinches: when the 

 titlarks are caught in the beginning of the feafon, it 

 frequently happens, that forty are taken and not one 

 female among them : and probably the fame would 

 be obferved with regard to other birds (as has been 

 done with relation to the wheat-ear) if they were 

 attended to. 



An experienced and intelligent bird-catcher in- 

 formed us, that fuch birds as breed twice a year, ge- 

 nerally have in their firft brood a majority of males, 

 and in their fecond, of females, which may in part 

 account for the above obfervation. 



We muft not omit mention of the bulfinch, though 

 it does not properly come under the title of a finging 

 bird, or a bird of flight, as it does not often move 

 farther than from hedge to hedge ; yet, as the bird 

 fells well on account of its learning to whittle tunes, 



tantu atiquo, aut humano fermotie, vacates. Plin. lib. x. C. $U 

 The price of this expenfive difh was about 6843/. 10/. according 

 to Arbuthnot's tables. This feems 10 have been a wanton caprice, 

 rather than a tribute to epicurilrn. 



v and 



