224 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



We had several other Eedpolls — one, whom I will call D, was a 

 powerful bird, who knew how to take care of himself; he was 

 not aggressive, but could peck very hard, and consequently was 

 usually made way for. He was not amusing, and passed most 

 of his time tapping his beak against the wires and polishing his 

 toes, which he kept in excellent order. 



Eedpoll E was a clever, sharp, and amusing bird, whom we 

 had when quite young. Eedpoll F was also a young bird, 

 but wild, fierce, and cunning. Eedpoll G was the contrary, 

 timid. F and G were often billing and cooing, therefore 

 we concluded that they were male and female, but we had 

 no further evidence of this, as they did not mate or build 

 a nest. 



We had another Canary — Canary B — for a long time. She 

 was a silly stupid bird, who methodically and decidedly refused 

 to learn anything, and yet from her greediness and clumsiness 

 was occasionally amusing. She appeared to have a cold and be 

 ill, and was in consequence fed on sponge cake dipped in wine 

 (sherry). Eedpoll E stole some of this in spite of her angry 

 remonstrances ; finally both birds were decidedly overcome with 

 alcohol, as they remained stationary on the perch, hissing at 

 each other, but totally unable to resort to movement or aggres- 

 sive action. 



A young Goldfinch (Carduelis elegans) soon became very 

 tame, and had pretty ways and manners. He learnt to pull up 

 his water, and showed forethought in the way he stood the 

 bucket up in a corner till it was empty, thus saving himself the 

 trouble of drawing it up every time he wished to drink. He was 

 twice the size of the " General," but used t to fly on his approach, 

 though not afraid of the other Eedpolls ; his angry hiss would 

 always drive them away. 



We had a pair of Siskins (Chrysomitris spinus). They were 

 very quick and intelligent, and practically learnt tameness from 

 seeing the tameness of the other birds. The female followed us 

 all over the cage to be fed, and drove away the birds whom we 

 might have been feeding. The male was more timid, though 

 when we first had them early in January, he so ill-treated the 

 female, pulling out half her feathers, that they had to be 

 separated ; yet such is the inconsistency of the female mind 



