160 
BIRD-LIFE. 
its companion took this so to heart that it refused its 
food, and only recovered its spirits on the reappearance of 
the Buzzard, which, unhappily for itself, had the mis¬ 
fortune to be recaptured. 
Certainly, from all sides anecdotes similar to those just 
related might be collected, giving proofs of the temper and 
disposition of birds under similar circumstances. We 
cannot help remarking, amongst all birds which are kept 
in captivity, their proneness to foster or nurse others, and 
the readiness with which they show their affection. A 
striking example of mutual tenderness occurred between 
two members of my menagerie in Africa,—a monkey 
and a Hornbill,—which lasted until the death of the 
bird. The monkey was chained and the bird free, yet 
the latter would often go of its own accord and seek 
the former, and allow it to treat it almost roughly, raise 
its feathers one by one, and the like, as monkeys are 
wont to do when freeing their friends from disagreeable 
lodgers. The Hornbill, in spite of everything, preserved 
its affection for its friend. Between men and birds the 
most touching instances of attachment have taken place in 
cases where the former have understood how to treat and 
appreciate the latter, which are among the most grateful 
creatures of creation. They are sad and thoughtful when 
their master is absent, because they do not regard him in 
the light of a ruler, but rather as a friend to whom grati¬ 
tude is due. An old gentleman had a Bullfinch, which 
clung to him with the greatest tenderness and devotion. 
Once when the master w T as obliged to go a journey the 
bird was sad and silent; on its friend’s return its joy was 
boundless, it fluttered with its wings and nodded a greeting 
as it had been taught to do, sung its master’s pet air, flew 
up and down in its cage, became all at once silent and 
