814 
WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIRDS. 
the Bullfincli, wliicli I cannot forego the pleasure of present- 
ing. He says : 
''Althougli tlie song of the male and female Bullfinch, 
in their wild state, is very harsh and disagreeable, yet if well 
taught while young, as they are in Hesse and Fulda, where 
there are schools of these little musicians for all Germany, 
Holland and England, they learn to whistle all kinds of airs and 
melodies with so soft and flute-like a tone, that they are great 
favorites with amateurs, and particularly with the ladies. 
There are some of these little birds which can whistle dis- 
tinctly three different airs, without spoiling or confusing 
them in the least. Added to this attraction, the Bullfinch 
becomes exceedingly tame, sings whenever it is told to do 
so, and is susceptible of a most tender and lasting attach- 
ment, which is shown by its endearing actions ; it balances 
its body, moves its tail from right to left, and spreads it like 
a fan. It will even repeat words with an accent and tone 
which indicate sensibihty, if one could believe that it under- 
stood them ; but its memory must not be overloaded. A 
single air, with a prelude or a short flourish to begin with, is 
as much as the bird can learn and remember, and this it will 
execute to the greatest perfection. These little prodigies 
would be more interesting and agreeable if their Hessian 
instructors possessed a little more musical taste, but these 
are generally tradespeople, employed about the house with 
their different occupations and trades ; and by tunes, airs and 
minuets of a hundred years old, public-house songs, or some 
learnt of their apprentices, in general compose the whole of 
their music." 
Tame Bullfinches have been known (says Buffon) to es- 
cape from the aviary, and live at liberty in the woods for a 
whole year, and then to recollect the voice of the person 
who had reared them, return to her, never more to leave her. 
Others have been known, which, when forced to leave their 
first master, have died of grief These little birds remember 
very well, and often too well, anyone who has injured them. 
