PIPING BULLFINCHES. 
223 
expiration of about a couple of months they first begin to 
whistle, from which time their education begins ; and no 
school can be more diligently superintended by its master, 
and no scholars more effectually trained to their own calling, 
than a seminary of Bullfinches. They are formed first into 
classes of about six in each — and after having been kept 
a longer time than usual without food, and confined in a dark 
room, the tune they are to learn is played over and over again 
on a little instrument called a bird- organ, the notes of which 
resemble as nearly as possible those of the Bullfinch. For a 
time, perhaps, the moping birds will sit in silence, not knowing 
what to make of these proceedings, hut after a while they will 
one by one begin to imitate the notes they hear. As soon as 
they do this, light is admitted into the room, and they are 
allowed a small supply of food. By degrees, the sound of the 
organ, and the circumstance of being fed, become so associated 
that the hungry bird is sure to imitate the notes as soon as it 
hears them. They are then turned over to the care of boys, 
whose sole business it is to go on with their education, each 
boy having a separate bird placed under his charge, who plays 
away from morning to night, or at least for as many hours as 
the birds can pay attention, during which time their first 
teacher or feeder goes his regular rounds, scolding or reward- 
ing his feathered scholars, by signs and modes which he has 
taught them to understand, till they become so perfect, and 
the tune, whatever it may be, so imprinted on their memory, 
that they will pipe it for the remainder of them lives. But 
though the greater number may be taught their tune, few 
only, not above five in a hundred, possibly, can be so correctly 
taught as to pipe in perfect harmony ; and these, of course, 
fetch a much higher price than the rest. 
Whether from the early habit of associating the utterance 
of their notes with the agreeable addition of a meal, or from 
some particular pleasure they feel in singing, we know not, 
but it so happens that singing and satisfaction generally go 
together in Bullfinches ; for a bird attached to any particular 
individuals in a family, will always express delight when they 
approach, and greet them with his well-known air, hopping 
