"It took a dislike to mamma, I believe, because she often caught it and put it in the cage, while it would go in voluntarily for me at any time. On my return from France, it seemed to have forgotten its old mistress; and on my opening the cage, instead of flying instantly on my finger, it sat still for a long time, and when urged out, flew immediately out of the window to a tree, and all our calling, contrary to former custom, was disregarded. It was Sunday, and the tree stood close to the church. I fear some boys hunted it, and as the cat came from under the same tree in the evening, I fear she surprised our interesting favourite. I have but one thing more to add it was most destructive to plants in the room, not pulling off the leaves, but applying its bill to the stems, and

dividing a heliotrope or geranium stem in an instant. I had it about five months, and took no pains to tame it. I am not fond of birds-compassion was the origin of our acquaintance, and attachment and confidence on the part of the bird won my favour."

THE BULLFINCH.*

THE Bullfinch is found in most parts of Europe, frequenting woods and gardens; it builds its nest either in the fork of a tree, not very high, or in a bush, generally the white-thorn. About the end of April, or in May, these birds begin the affair of nidification. The nest is composed of small branches interlaced on the outside, and the fibres of roots within. The female lays from four to six bluishwhite eggs, with red or brownish spots, particularly towards the greater end. Besides the buds of trees, on which these birds feed, they take also in summer grain and berries, and, it has been said, sometimes insects. Some of them migrate, but others remain during the winter, and then approach nearer to human habitations. They live five or six years.

This species, which possesses many pleasing qualities when caged, is very destructive in a state of nature, by feeding on the buds of fruit-trees, especially pears, apples, and plums. They appear to associate in families of the parents and their young of the same season, an association not determined by the approach of winter, but which continues until the ensuing spring, when the young pair and breed. A woody country, in the vicinity of hills, is their favourite resort. They are usually seen on the upper branches of trees; but should a hawk or anything else alarm them, they descend rapidly into

* Loxia pyrrhula.

the middle of the thickest bush at hand, and remain there without uttering the slightest noise. In spring, on the contrary, when the family disperses, and the young males select their mates, they are no longer to be found on the tops of trees, but concealed in the thickest bushes, where they would escape all observation, but for the continued call they make use of to one another. The lateness in the season, compared with other birds, of the breeding time of the bullfinch is remarkable; but even this circumstance, trifling and unimportant as it may seem, of their economy is not without a substantial cause. The young are fed, in all probability, on grain, to the exclusion of insects and chrysalises, the usual food of other young birds of this order; and if they were hatched early in the season, it is obvious that grain would neither be so plentiful nor so fit as at a later period.

The bullfinch is a very docile bird, and though the natural song of both sexes is harsh and disagreeable-resembling the creaking of a door or wheelbarrow-they may be trained, as in England,

Germany, and Holland, to whistle many airs and songs in a soft, pure, flute-like tone, which is highly prized by amateurs. The bird is generally capable of retaining in its memory three different tunes. Bullfinches are best instructed by a flute, or the whistling of a teacher. They sing at command, make many very elegant gestures, moving now the body and now the tail to the right and left, and spreading out the latter like a fan. To obtain the perfection of whistling, a bird should only be taught one air, together with the usual short flourish or prelude.

A great number of piping bullfinches are annually sent to this country, after going through the usual course of instruction. No school can be more diligently attended by its master, and no scholars more effectually trained to their own calling, than a seminary of bullfinches. As a general rule, they are formed into classes of about six in each, and kept in a dark room, when food and music are administered at the same time; so that when the meal is ended, if the birds feel disposed to tune up, they are naturally inclined to copy the sounds which are so familiar to them. As soon as they begin to imitate a few notes, the light is admitted into the room, which still further exhilarates their spirits and inclines them to sing. In some establishments the starving system is adopted, and the birds are not allowed food or light until they sing.

THE BULLFINCH.

When they have been under this course of instruction for some time, they are committed singly to the care of boys, whose sole business is to go on with their education. Each boy assiduously plays his organ from morning till night, for the instruction of the bird committed to his care, while the classteacher goes his regular rounds, superintending the progress of his feathered pupils, and scolding or rewarding them in a manner which they perfectly understand, and strictly in accordance with the attention or disregard they have shown to the instructions of the monitor.

This round of teaching goes on unintermittingly for no less a period than nine months, by which time the bird has acquired firmness, and is less likely to forget or spoil the air by leaving out passages, or giving them in the wrong place. At the time of moulting, the best instructed birds are liable to lose the recollection of their tunes, and therefore require to have them frequently repeated at that time, otherwise all the previous labour will be thrown away. There are celebrated schools for these birds at Hesse and Fulda, from whence all England, Germany, and Holland receive supplies of the little musicians. The bullfinch may also be brought to articulate words, and the female is equally capable of their acquirement with the male. They show also more attachment than other small birds in general, and can distinguish strangers from those who have the care of them, or are their teachers.

Mr. Kidd, who has written so much that is deeply interesting about birds, after an acquaintance with them and an attachment to them which are extremely rare, pleasantly says:-" Now let me say a kind word for the bullfinch. Talking of attachments, what can equal the attachment of one of these sweet little creatures to his master or mistress? One that lived with me a number of years always had its liberty during spring and summer. It would follow me all about the house; and in the morning, perched on my pillow, it would guard me with the fondest affection-flying at, fighting, and scolding any one who ventured into my apartment.

"My little champion was a bachelor. Wishing to please him, I procured him a mate; but thinking me, perhaps, over-officious, he declined making himself agreeable, and the match never came off. I confess his principles were very orthodox, and very proper. It is not right, as a general rule, to interfere in matters of this kind; and when we lay any such plans,' we can hardly wonder if they fail of their intended aim. This by the way. Certain it is that he preferred a life of celibacy, and was happiest by himself. Yet was the partner I had assigned to him a charming little creature, and very tame. Her temper, too, was excellent, and her disposition most amiable. In no way offended at the slight put upon her, she listened to the bachelor's song, and learned it perfectly. The only difference was, that she sung his note in a softer tone. I ought to have given him 'a choice.""

THE PINE GROSBEAK.*

THIS bird, sometimes called the Pine Bullfinch, is more abundant in the northern parts of Europe and America than elsewhere.

According to Audubon, its flight is undulating and smooth, performed in a direct line when it is migrating, at a considerable height above the forests, and in groups of from five to ten individuals. They alight frequently during the day, on such trees as are opening their buds or blossoms. At such times they are extremely gentle, and easily approached. They are exceedingly fond of bathing, and whether on the ground or on branches, move by short leaps. "I have been surprised," says Audubon, " to see, on my having fired, those that were untouched fly directly towards me until within a few feet, and then slide off, and alight on the lower branches of the nearest tree, where, standing as erect as little hawks, they gazed upon me as if I were an object quite new, and of whose nature they were ignorant. They are easily caught under snow-shoes put up with a figure of four, around the wood-cutters' camps, in the state of Maine, and are said to afford good eating. Their food consists of the buds and seeds of almost all sorts of trees; occasionally also, they seize a passing insect. I once knew one of these sweet songsters, which, in the evening, as soon as the lamp was lighted in the room where its cage was hung, would instantly tune its voice anew."

Pyrrhula enucleator.

The nest of this species is built of small sticks, lined with feathers, and usually placed on a branch of a tree, a few feet only above the ground. It lays four or five eggs, of a pale green, with a few spots

and streaks of purplish brown.

Another genus, a sub-family of Fringillida,* the Weavers-Tisserines of the French-is thus described by Mr. Swainson :-Size small; bill conic; but with the culmen slightly bent and the tip entire; under mandible less thick than the upper; claws large, very long; wings pointed, but the first quill remarkably short and spurious. It inhabits the Old World only.

THE BROAD-SHAFTED WHIDAH FINCH.t

THE bill of the Weavers is robust, advancing on the forehead in the form of an acute angle; it is convex above, a little compressed on the sides, entire, nearly straight, sharp, and sometimes a little

gibbous. The lower mandible has its edges bent inwards; the tongue is cartilaginous and fringed at the point; the nostrils are oblong and covered with a membrane.

Most of these birds are found in India or Africa. Their generic name is derived from the wonderful art with which they construct their nests, interlacing them with blades of grass; in which talent they resemble some other birds, the inhabitants of far-distant lands.

Of one of these we have given an engraving, the Dicean Swallow, which is found in nearly every part of Australia in which colonies have been established. This bird selects the place of its nest in close proximity to a river or stream, in shrubs or bushes, as loranthus or acacia, and forms it like a purse, of the leaves of different sorts of plants.

Another bird of that country is the Malurus cyaneus, which chiefly inhabits sterile places, on the borders of rivers and torrents. The nest, constructed of similar materials, is in the form of a sphere, with an opening at the side, and is interlaced with feathers and hairs. There are usually four eggs of a delicate whiteness. These birds have, like many others, a summer and a winter attire, and become in the rigorous season very familiar.

Of Cuvier's genus vidua, the Whidah-bird is one of the most elegant species. In organisation and in manners they are true linnets. In captivity, which they endure without much appearance of constraint, they are lively and active, jumping from perch to perch, and alternately raising and depressing their long tails with much vivacity. They are usually fed upon grain, with the occasional addition of green herbs; and are fond of bathing in the water which is placed in their cage. Twice a year they are +Vidua paradisea.

* Ploceinæ.