I u° l 
CHAFFING II. 
Defcription and Character. 
T FIE Chaffinch is a front, hardy, well* 
known bird, being common almoit in every 
tree or hedge; of the bignefs of the Bull-Finch, 
very lavifh in his fong, and when brought up 
from the neft, or branchers, will ling fix or 
eight months in the year ; the wild, not above 
three months, and chiefly in breeding time ; 
fome of thefe birds, when brought up under 
other fweet-fong birds, prove good and valuable, 
but the greater part is not worth keeping. 
It is a cuflom among the bird-men, when 
they want to learn the Chaffinch, Linnet, &c. 
a fong, to blind them when they are about 
three or four months old ; which is done by 
putting out their eyes with a wire made alraoft 
red hot ; becaufe, as it is laid, they will be more 
attentive, and learn the better ; but it would be 
much better never to confine them in cages, 
than purchafe their harmony by fuch barbarous 
ufage. 
