Lhe Bullfinch. 63 
but when kept in captivity, seems pleased to devote 
itself to education. It can be taught to pipe different 
tunes beautifully, and sound the chiming of church 
bells; but for this to be accomplished the Bullfinch 
must be taken when young from the nest, before it 
has time to learn the note of its parent. Mr. Bewick 
tells us “there are instances of two Bullfinches having 
been taught to sing i pats, In Germany there are 
schools on purpose for these birds, where they “are 
taught in classes, and, according to their ability, they 
attain different tunes; some birds are only able to 
learn one air well, while another will repeat two or 
three perfectly, and if the piece is played differently 
to what it has been taught, it will show great dis- 
pleasure by hissing at the person then playing. Good 
piping Bullfinches are very valuable, some being worth 
four or five guineas. | 
' This bird is common in all parts of our island, and, 
in a wild state, is very destructive in the spring to the 
buds that contain the blossom of different fruits, es- 
pecially stone fruit, such as plums and cherries. It 
has been said these birds go for a “small maggot,” 
but whether there is a small maggot in some of the 
buds or not is best known to the eater of the blossom 
