THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS, 
173 
a grateful heart offering up praise and thanksgiving 
to the throne of grace. 
I find the following observation on these sweet 
birds in a note to Wilson's Ornithology, by Sir W. 
Jardine : — " Every person who has lived much in 
the country, must have often remarked the common 
European linnets congregating towards the close of a 
fine winter^s evening, perched on the summit of some 
bare tree, pluming themselves in the last rays of the 
sun, chirruping the commencement of their evening 
song, and then bursting simultaneously into one 
general chorus, again resuming their single strains, 
and again joining, — as if happy, and rejoicing at the 
termination of their day's employment/' 
Linnets are great washers. In the coldest days 
this winter, my birds have immersed themselves in 
water three or four times every week, splashing it 
about till every feather was wet. They never seemed 
to take cold from it; but a canary, which took a 
fancy to follow their example, caught cold in con- 
sequence, and had to be nursed, kept very warm, 
and, for several mornings, to have a portion of 
water-cress. 
My country rambles recalled to my remembrance 
Q 2 
