136 
Birds and Flowers . 
they ought to be taught almost to do without 
hemp, which is much too fattening and not good 
for the plumage. In winter, however, they may 
have rather more. Bullfinches and Goldfinches 
are those whom it least agrees with. 
The best fun of all is to have two Goldfinches 
kept loose in a rQom. I have several times done 
this to my immense amusement. Once I had a tall 
Fir-tree brought in in a flower-pot, and the two little 
birds were for ever perching on it close to me, in 
the window. They would fight amazingly too, 
and then the victor, perched on the topmost twig, 
and looking like a brown knob, would pour out a 
frantic song ; and then they had two picture-nails 
on which they would always roost, and as they 
preferred the same nail, we used to have sad 
doings, and sometimes dared not have lights 
brought till they were settled in, so that it be- 
came the custom in twilight every evening for the 
door to open cautiously, and an inquiry to be 
made, “ if Goldie and Spinkie had gone to their nails 
for good ?” For washing, these mischievous imps 
took to a small aquarium, and on the top of its 
rock-work they used to sit and splash. I am sure 
I hope the fish liked it. 
And then they used to fly at me and seize 
great spoils of biscuit, and retire to cheffoniers to 
