PIPING BULLFINCHES. 
17 
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 rewarding his feathered 
scholars, by signs and modes which he has taught 
them to understand, until 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 
their 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 in- 
dividuals in a family, will always express delight 
when they approach, and greet them with his well- 
known air, hopping towards them on his perch, and 
practising all his little coaxing ways. An interesting 
story was once told by Sir William Parsons, who was 
VOL. il c 
