FOOD OF THE BULLFINCH. 
of his pain, he had no longer any taste for captivity, or the 
company of his fail* doctor; indeed her service did little towards 
prolonging his life, for while a cage was being prepared for his 
reception, he flew anxiously about the room, and at last dashed 
against the window with such violence as to kill himself. 
More than one naturalist with whom I am acquainted asserts 
that a tune once learnt by a bullfinch is never forgotten. This 
is not altogether correct, as during a bird’s moult, it certainly 
will entirely forget its lessons, unless during that period they 
are frequently played over to him. If you neglect this, and he 
does forget his “ piping,” you wall find it much less trouble to 
teach a young bird than to re-teach the old one. People who 
in the summer buy German bullfinches in full pipe, will do well 
to bear this in mind, it will save them much disappointment 
and no little money. While he is moulting, keep a clove con- 
stantly in his water, and at all times observe the directions 
I have already given respecting freedom from draught, fresh air, 
a clean and well-sanded cage, and the bath. 
Pood of the Bullfinch. — As regards nestlings, for the first 
two or three weeks they should be kept particularly warm. A big- 
bellied pint jug well lined with flannel, makes a good artificial 
nest. Bruise old rape- seed, scald, and strain it. Soak bread 
in warm milk, squeeze it tolerably dry, and beat it and the 
bruised hemp seed together. Give them five mouthfuls of this 
diet every two hours from six in the morning till dark. 
Old birds, when newly caught, may be fed on a German paste 
composed of the soaked upper crust of white bread, grated carrot, 
and flour brayed together in a mortar. With this paste may 
occasionally be mixed a few rape-seeds. After the first week 
gradually reduce his quantity of German paste, substituting 
rape that has been soaked for a few hours, till he uses himself 
to it, and goes without the paste altogether. You may feed him 
solely on this, or may give him equal parts of canary or rape- 
seed, with once a week a pinch or two of maw-seed. As a rule, 
never give him hemp-seed, it tends to make him corpulent and 
lazy, induces blindness, and gradually turns his pretty plumage 
first dingy brown, and then black. Por his health’s sake, 
occasional green food is necessary. Let it consist of lettuce, 
chickweed, or watercress. 
With the exception, perhaps, of the goldfinch, no songbird is 
more docile or tractable than the bullfinch. He may be very 
soon taught both to eat and drink from its owner’s mouth; but, 
in my opinion this trick is best left alone, as it is without doubt a 
121 
