CHINK!' 
105 
“ CHINK.” 
ERY late one winter’s night, eight years ago, in a terrific 
storm of wind and snow, we heard a bang against one 
of the bedroom windows. At first we took no notice, 
but when the sound was repeated we opened the window' 
and a poor little drenched chaffinch was blown in. We picked 
him up and warmed him by the fire. Then came the question 
what to do with him ? It was about eleven o’clock at night ! 
We had not long been settled in our new home, and had no 
cages ready to receive storm-driven birds. But we bethought 
ourselves of a small meat safe which had done service in London, 
so we fetched it, put a little straw on the floor and a few crumbs, 
and placed the little chaffinch inside. This extempore cage we 
placed near the wflndow. 
The next morning we hastened to see Chink, as we call him, 
and found he had quite recovered from his fright, and was 
looking quite bright. He picked up some crumbs and hopped 
about the cage. As soon as the sun came out, we opened the 
door of his cage and Chink hopped out on to the snow-covered 
ground, then flew on to the railings quite close to the window^ 
and sang his little song. It was just as if he wished to thank 
us for his night’s lodging. Ever since that day he has been a 
constant visitor to the house, very often accompanied by Mrs. 
Chink. He calls out to us whenever he sees us ; as soon as the 
blinds are drawn up in the morning Chink appears and demands 
biscuits. When the windows are shut he will fly up just above 
the muslin blinds, flutter in the air for a moment to attract our 
attention, and then fly down to the ground to wait for the 
expected crumbs. Sometimes he comes as early as four in the 
morning, sits on the window-sill and sings out loudly. Needless 
to remark his wants are attended to at once. Sometimes on 
Sunday mornings Chink will wait for us to come out of church, 
sitting on the chestnut tree between the churchyard and the 
garden, and then will follow us up the path and wait patiently 
till we bring him some biscuit. He comes to eat crumbs off the 
table in the window, and encouraged by his example the other 
chaffinches come too, so that we have had three or four on the 
table together. 
Chink is a very smart-looking little bird, with his gay plumage, 
and struts along quite differently from the common sparrows. 
His little wife is a dainty little bird, though her plumage is far 
more sober than her mate’s, and she looks a mere skeleton by 
the side of the plump cock bird. One summer when we were 
sitting out in the garden, amply provided of course with provender 
for our dear birds. Chink came up as usual and attracted our 
attention by calling out. We threw him some crumbs as usual 
and were surprised to find he did not take them, but called out 
