THE GOLDFINCH. 
and unsparing cruelty I It is an incontrovertible fact that it is 
impossible to teach any animal to perform feats distasteful and 
foreign to its nature without resorting to violent and unnatural 
means. 
Who that has paid a visit to a bird exhibition, and has 
clapped his hands with delight at the amusing tricks performed 
by the tiny feathered actors, imagined that the canary that so 
nimbly springs from one rail of the ladder to another, was taught 
to do so by having his wings bound, and his ascent compelled by 
the application of a sharp needle to his legs and thighs ? That 
the goldfinch that spins round in the wire cylinder and sets the 
windmill going, received his lessons in a cylinder, the wires of 
which were made so hot as to compel him to keep up a tortured 
dance, to save his poor toes from scorching ! That the little 
creature that stands unmoved amidst the squibs and Catherine 
wheels, has had his eyes “ scaled ” by the near approach of hot 
iron, so that, although he appears to have his sight, he is quite 
blind, and cannot see the glare of the fireworks, and does 
not flinch from the noise of the exploding gunpowder for the 
simple reason that a pistol has been discharged so often near 
his ears that he is nearly deaf ! 
Let the humane reader treasure up this information, and 
act upon it whenever he is invited to go and see “ performing 
birds.” 
Still there are many tricks they may be taught, harmless and 
amusing in their nature, and which really seem to afford the 
birds themselves great delight. He will draw up water from a 
vessel below his cage, by means of a tiny chain and pail, hauling 
in the chain with his beak, and securing each piece he so recovers 
with his feet. He will ring for his victuals. The way to teach 
him this is to suspend a little bell in the corner of his cage, and 
for a few hours keep him without seed ; then, by means of a 
thread attached to the bell, ring once or twice, and immediately 
bring a few seeds, and place them in his seed glass. In a few 
days he will have learnt that seed is brought when the bell rings, 
and taking the thread by which the bell is suspended, in his 
beak, will peal away as lustily as any ancient dustman or seller 
of muffins. 
Goldfinch Mules. — The most beautiful mules are those that 
are bred from the male goldfinch and the canary. However, it 
will be necessary to pay some attention to the colour of your 
hen’s plumage, to ensure handsome mules. The canary should 
be all of a colour. For instance, the common red-eyed white 
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