THE PET FINCHES. 
815 
One of them, having been thrown down with its cage, by 
some of the lowest order of the people, did not seem at first 
much disturbed by it, but afterwards it would fall into 
convulsions as soon as it saw any shabbily-dressed person, 
and it died in one of these fits eight months after the first 
accident. A Bullfinch, belonging to a lady often mentioned 
before, being subject to very frightful dreams, which 
made it fall from its perch, and beat itself in the cage, no 
sooner heard the affectionate voice of its mistress, than, not- 
withstanding the darkness of the night, it became imme- 
diately tranquil, and re- ascended its perch to sleep again. It 
was very fond of chickweed, and as soon as it perceived one 
bringing it to him, however much care was taken to prevent 
its finding it easily, it would show its joy by its actions and 
cries. 
Concerning our little warlike Southron, the Painted Finch 
or Nonpareil^ Mr. Audubon has some highly attractive pas- 
sages. He says : 
" The flight of the Pope, by which the Creoles of Louisiana 
know this bird best, is short, although regular, and performed 
by a nearly constant motion of the wings, which is rendered 
necessary by their concave form. It hops on the ground, 
moving forward with ease, now and then jetting out the tail 
a little, and, like a true Sparrow, picking up and carrying off 
a grain of rice or a crumb of bread to some distance where 
it majr eat in more security. It has a sprightly song, often 
repeated, which it continues even when closely confined. 
When the bird is at liberty, this song is uttered from the top 
branches of an orange tree, or those of a common briar ; and 
although not so sonorous as that of the Canary, or of its 
nearer relative, the Indigo Bunting, is not far from equalling 
either. Its song is continued during the greatest heats of the 
day, which is also the case with that of the Indigo Bird. 
" About the middle of April, the orange groves of the lower 
parts of Louisiana, and more especially those in the imme- 
diate vicinity of the city of New Orleans, are abundantly 
