Our Native Song Birds. 129 
the addition of chickweed and plain cracknels, of 
which they are very fond. 
These birds cost about half a guinea a pair ; 
neither these nor the others here named being at 
all more expensive than a good Canary. The 
Java Sparrows and Avadavats are from eight to 
fourteen shillings a pair. They should, if possible, 
be bought in summer or autumn. 
o» 
CHAPTER IY. 
OUR NATIVE SONG BIRDS. 
It is, after all, in this class that we find the 
most universal favourites among birds. The gay 
little sidling Goldfinch, the sharp uppish Chaffinch, 
the fat and melancholy Bullfinch, the homely 
sweet-voiced Linnet, even the big Greenfinches 
and the perky Sparrows claim to be reckoned 
under this same head. How very nice it is in 
spring, in a country place, to find a little bird’s 
nest when we don’t mean to take it ! We can go 
