ON BIRDS. 
75 
came necessary in my going about tbe garden to constantly carry a 
supply of food with me, I therefore procured a large pill box, and 
filling it with scalded rape seed and bread, carried it regularly in my 
pocket. These birds shortly knew me so well, that whether I called 
or not, they would fly down and follow me until I fed them, they 
then returned to the trees till their appetites reminded them of the 
contents of the pill box, they continued thus familiar until matured, 
and I suppose, mingled in September with the general flocks. When 
a flock of goldfinches or linnets were passing over my head, or near 
me, I generally called in my usual way, and often one, or two, or 
more, would separate from the flock, and alight in a tree or shrub, 
perhaps within a yard or two of me; but I never remember an in¬ 
stance when these would allow me to touch them, although I have 
tried many times, by moving very gently, at the same time holding 
out my hand with food, and using my call, however, they always 
kept sufficiently out of my reach, either moving to another twig or 
flying to another tree. After September I seldom saw any gold¬ 
finches, I could suppose to be of my rearing, linnets I have occasion¬ 
ally met with in winter. I think, however, those which escaped the 
net of the bird-catcher, probably returned to that neighbourhood to 
breed, as it abounded with goldfinches and linnets; but I could ob¬ 
serve no greater familiarity or boldness, than what might arise from 
their affection to their young, and which appeared equally strong in 
other birds, nor did my call seem to be at all noticed. 
Of all birds when reared by the hand, I have found none to surpass 
in familiarity, the greenfinch ; (Fringilla chloris) its affection for its 
owner appears very great; I repeatedly allowed one I possessed to 
have his full liberty in the garden, and if his cage was set out of 
doors too, he appeared to enjoy his liberty much, but if he lost sight 
of his cage, he appeared sadly troubled, he always seemed very hap¬ 
py when I noticed him; when weary, he would resort to his cage, 
enter in, and feed as composed as though he had never been absent 
from it. I think too, something of the same knowledge and affection 
is possessed by bullfinches; in that very severe winter 1813—14, 
I caught a great number of starving birds, and amongst them several 
bullfinches, these I caged and fed, intending at the return of fine 
weather to give them their liberty. 
I think it was about the beginning of April I began to release my 
captives, I could not resist the temptation of selecting a few of the 
most beautiful for perpetual prisoners, the rest I set at liberty. Se¬ 
veral of the bullfinches seemed to leave me rather unwillingly, they 
hung about the door, and seemed loth to leave it. One handsome 
