the SINGING of BI RDS . iy T 
of the parents announces the arrival of their 
food. 
I mu ft own that i ana not equal myfelf, nor 
can I procure any perfon to take the trouble of 
breeding up a bird of this age, as the odds a- 
gainft its being reared are ahnoft infinite. The 
warmth indeed of incubation may be in fome 
Hieafure.fupplied by cotton and fires; but thefe 
delicate animals require in this (fate being fed 
aim oft perpetually, whilft the npurit lament then 
receive ftieuld not only be prepared with great 
attention, but given in very finall portions at a 
time. 
Though Tmufl admit, therefore, that I have 
never real ed myfelf a bird of io tender an age, 
yet I have happened to fee both a Linn.et and 
a Gold-Finch which were taken from their nefts- 
when only two or three days old, 
1 he fir ft of thefe belonged to Mr Matthews, 
an apothecary at Kenfington, which, from a 
want of other founds to imitate, ahnoft articu- 
■hied the words pretty hoy , as well as fome other 
Tort ientences. I heard the bird myfelf repeat 
toe words pretty boy ; and Mr Matthews affined 
, me that he had neither the note nor call of any 
oird whatfoever. 
^ hi* taming Linnet died Iaft year, and many 
People Went from London to hear him fpeak. 
^ fte Gold-Finch I have before mentioned 
w as reared in the town of Knighton in Rad- 
ii -> 
