SINGING-MATCHES. 
it in front, and it is made to step from one to the other, when, 
the distance being gradually increased, it will speedily hop to 
it. This being accomplished, the chief difficulty is over, for 
if once the bird hop quietly from one finger to the other, 
it will, on recovering from its insensibility, upon observing 
that its trainer does it no harm, speedily familiarise itself 
with all kinds of tricks, such as the firing of pistols, and flying 
to and fro.” 
Chaffinch Singing-matches. — Among professional bird- 
catchers and dealers, much money is lost and won by matching 
one chaffinch against another to sing. It is a remarkable fact 
that chaffinches of different countries sing different songs. That 
it is the same throughout Europe is verified by Bechstien, 
Jesse, and other celebrated naturalists. For instance, the song 
of the Essex finch is “ Toll-loll-loll-chickweedo,” while that of 
the Kentish warbler is distinctly “ Toll-loll-loll-kiss-me-dear.” 
Some time ago there appeared in the “Welcome Guest,” an 
article in which was given some information concerning a 
chaffinch singing-match, and as it may probably be interesting 
to such readers of “ Home Pets ” as are not already acquainted 
with it, I shall take the liberty of transcribing it. 
“ Alighting at Church Street, Shoreditch,” says the writer, 
“ I found Hare Street the second turning on the right, and the 
‘ Queen of Spades ’ towards the further end. My friend was 
waiting for me on the ‘ Queen’s ’ steps, and I was presently 
ushered into the parlour. I was not the first arrival ; I should 
say that in the long, narrow room there were at least forty men 
present, and every one of them smoking, so that the apartment 
was literally choked with tobacco- smoke. Nevertheless, the twenty 
or thirty birds that hung in cages round the room hopped about 
as busily, and sang as merrily, if not as sweetly, as though it 
were a summer morning, and they were free in the merry green- 
wood. I inquired after the famous bird I came to see, and 
was informed that he was upstairs in the landlord’s bedroom, 
that being the most secluded part of the premises ; but I was 
shown the bird’s owner, who sat up in a corner, anxiously 
turning to the door every time it opened, and nervously wiping 
his forehead with a comer of his neckerchief. 
“ The Kingsland Boarer was late, but presently he made his 
appearance, in company of an oily-looking man, with perverted 
side-locks. He was greeted as ‘Meatey,’ and the company 
asked him ‘ What cheer ?’ and offered him their liquor. My 
friend the birdcatcher informed me that ‘Meatey’ was a cat’s - 
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