THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
219 
In Mr. White's Natural History of Selborne, he 
says, " A few years ago, I saw a cock bullfinch in a 
cage, which had been caught in the fields after it was 
come to its full colours ; in about a year it began to 
look dingy, and, blackening every succeeding year, 
it became coal black at the end of four years ; its 
chief food was hemp-seed ; such influence has food 
on the colour of animals." 
The following observations of Dr. Bechstein shew 
how much this bird is esteemed in Germany : — 
Although the song of the male and female bull- 
finch, in their wild state, is very harsh and disagree- 
able, 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 favourites with amateurs, and particularly 
with the ladies. There are some of these little birds 
which can whistle distinctly three different airs, 
without spoiling or confusing them in the least. 
Added to this attraction, the bullfinch becomes ex-- 
ceedingly tame, sings whenever it is told to do so^ 
