THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
55 
More cruelty could none express ; 
And I, if you had shewn me less, 
Had been your captive still. 
A person of my acquaintance professes to be par- 
ticularly partial to birds ; but I have often seen their 
cages dirty, their water-glass dry, and their seed- 
drawer empty. This, sure, is the extreme of cruelty ; 
and, as those poor prisoners cannot provide for their 
own wants, it is the least return we can make, for 
the pleasure we derive from their melody, to con- 
tribute all in our power to soften the pangs of cap- 
tivity by kind treatment. 
Dr. Bechstein observes of this sweet songster, 
" It is a very beautiful, lively, active bird, always 
in motion, and turning continually to the right and 
left. 
" Its agreeable song, which is only discontinued 
during moulting, is a mixture of tones and harmonies, 
more or less dwelt upon ; and the often er the sound 
'Jink ^ is introduced, the more it is admired 
amongst us. 
" There are some goldfinches that utter it only once 
or twice in their strains, whilst others will repeat it 
four or five times following. This species learn with 
