HOW TO REAR GREENFINCH NESTLINGS. 
It is a great pity, however, that the prettiest verse (the last) 
should convey a false idea of the capabilities of the bird 
eulogised. Wordsworth speaks of the greenfinch “ exultingly 
pouring forth its gushing strains,” while, in fact, the song of 
this demure little bird is as modest as his plumage. 
HEAD OF GREENFINCH. 
How to Hear Greenfinch Nestlings.- — I know of no bird 
that exhibits more affection for its little ones than the green- 
finch. The distress they evince on returning home (with a 
beakful of food), to find the nestlings, house, and all gone, is 
painful to witness. I am no advocate for bereaving the poor 
parent of home and children at one swoop, as I trust I have 
made apparent, by repeatedly advising that the cock -birds 
may be taken, and the hens (there are pretty sure to be one or 
two), left. As regards most song-birds I have never observed 
(even in the aviary) that the abduction of a nestling or two 
from half-a-dozen at all distresses the parent birds ; but with 
the greenfinch it is a different matter. If the hen misses but 
a single fledgling she will immediately come to the ground and 
search about, no doubt with the notion that it must have fallen 
out of the nest, nor will she, for a considerable time, cease her 
anxious search, uttering at the same time a tiny note, corre- 
sponding to the “ cluck ” of a fowl for her missing chick. I 
will tell you of a scheme by which you may engage the ser- 
vices of the old birds to bring up the fledglings for you, in your 
own house. 
I will assume, to start, that you know where there is a green- 
finch’s nest. You start out, taking with you a “ trap-cage.” 
This, if you are ingenious, you may construct for yourself. Get 
any large square cage, take off the door, and so suspend it above 
the aperture that the weight of a bird perching on a cross 
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