812 
WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIEDS. 
He had been the most obdurate tormenter of my Bullfinch 
in his own proud way — but, when he was dead, when he 
could no longer resent his quiet assaults, then he mourned as 
deeply as we — ^his cry became distressing, and ever since he 
has been still and gentle, coming nearer to me, as if he felt 
that we too missed his dead comrade, and as if we too were 
exiles from some far away home 
Once I had the skin of a Painted Finch of full plumage — 
he recognized it instantly as a countryman — flew down to 
greet it with the most delicate and plaintive chirpings, his 
wings rapidly flitting in short movements, his whole soul 
beaming in ecstasy from his eye — 'his figure crouching and 
thrown into curves, all expressing the tender joy which filled 
his bosom at thus meeting so suddenly a countryman, who 
had come too in such splendor of costume. 
He, poor fellow, had yet to wait many months before he 
could hope to complete an entire change in his own dress be- 
neath the chary rays of the far away sun of the N'orth. 
But he thought not of this, he saw only here, one of his 
kindred, one who had sung many a midday hour from the 
topmost branches of some orange tree, with his feathers 
loosely spread to the warm sunbeams while he sung dream- 
ily in the intervals of his naps, anon bursting forth into 
clear, shrill notes of defiance, as the voice of a dreamed of 
rival crept into his slumbrous fancy. 
He saw here only one exiled like himself, and his heart 
was filled with sympathy and love — he came to his side — he 
pecked gently at his feathers. Ah, what! he will not re- 
spond. Poor disappointed Finch. See how he draws his 
figure up to its utmost height, and gazes at the motionless 
shape before him. Now he gives a quick thrust with his 
bill, and uttering a short, shrill note, perches silently in a 
corner of his cage. 
He will not look again at this deceptive emblem of 
hope and home — ^his disgust is inexpressible — he thought 
to take to his heart an embodiment of all the past — he had 
