THE Bullfinch has many names, a sure proof that he is a favorite with all. He is from six to seven inches long, and about eleven inches across; the length of the wing three-and-a-half, and the tail two-and-a-half inches. He is bold and independent looking. The male has a rich, deep black mark upon the throat, wings, and tail, and ash-gray upon the back; the rump is white, and the rest of the lower part of the body is bright red. It is a very common bird, not only in England but all over Europe. Fond of retirement, it keeps chiefly to the woods, and is only seen near our homes when hard pressed for food. It must be a very keen frost that will compel the Bullfinch to join the social Robin in picking up the crumbs from your door. In a wild state their habits are very cheerful, and all close observers become much enamored with their little ways.
Their attachment to each other is very great. Should one be killed, the rest show real concern, and, it is said, will even carry away the dead body of their unfortunate companion. Those who have written large books about birds tell some very touching stories as to the grief they have shown under such trials. Hard-hearted and cruel indeed must be the man, or boy, that for mere love of sport can destroy such a tender-hearted bird. It is very unsuspecting, and on this account it is easily entrapped. Large numbers are caught by simply placing a stuffed Bullfinch in the midst of prepared snares, and then imitating its call-note.
But that which makes the Bullfinch so much prized is not its own natural song, as with the Canary, Blackbird, the Thrush, and the Lark. Its natural note is only a simple pipe or whistle, and is even disagreeable, almost like the creaking of a door or a wheelbarrow; but it is capable of high culture, and can be taught to pipe or whistle many airs and songs in a soft, pure, flute-like tone. When speaking about the Canary we told you how great a number of people were engaged in breeding, and then training them for the markets of Europe and America. This is equally true as to the Bullfinch. In early spring many thousands of young ones are taken from the nests on the Continent, and after being duly trained, like the canaries, are sold into captivity.
One writer tells us, "The bird is generally capable of retaining three different tunes. Bullfinches are best instructed by a flute, or the whistling of a teacher. To obtain the perfection of whistling, a bird should only be taught one air, together with the usual flourish or prelude.
No school can be more diligently watched over by its master, and no scholar 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.
“When they have been under this course of training for some time, they are committed singly to the care of boys, whose sole business it is to go on with their education. Each boy assiduously plays his organ from morning till night, while the class teacher 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 instruction of the monitor.”
This round of teaching goes on for fully 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. All this, however, is in danger of being lost in the time of moulting, and they require to have the tunes frequently repeated at that time.
Bullfinches are not only greatly attached to each other, but they show the same love to those who care for them. I could easily fill a volume with really interesting stories about the Bullfinch. Let me give you one. "Now let me say a kind word for the Bullfinch. Talk of attachments, what can equal the attachment of one of these sweet little creatures to its master or mistress. One that lived with me a number of years always had his 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. He preferred a life of celibacy and was happiest by himself. Yet was the partner I had assigned 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 sang his note in a softer tone. I ought to have given him `a choice.'" Here is another touching tale. "A gentleman had once taken great pains with a favorite Bullfinch, and taught it to sing very perfectly the National Anthem. He was then called away, and did not return home for some time. The first tidings he heard then were that his poor Bullfinch was very ill and not likely to live. It had lost its song and all its powers. The gentleman returned at once. It struggled up to its feet when it heard his voice, and by a great effort perched on his hand, as it used to do. It began to sing the familiar air, but it was too much for its failing strength, and in the act of doing so, it fell down dead!" Is it not sad to think that people should so often ill-treat and ill-use the creatures around them, when a little kindness would draw forth love like this? The Bullfinch is very sensitive to reproof or praise. "A lady friend of ours," says another, "had a Bullfinch so tame that she allowed it to fly about the room, and was in the habit of lavishing caresses upon it. One afternoon, being somewhat busy, her little companion did not receive the customary attention, for which he clamored so loudly that his mistress at length hastily caught him, replaced him in the cage, and covered it with a cloth; the poor little creature was no sooner treated in this manner than he uttered a few plaintive notes, as though imploring for notice and freedom, and then, hanging his head, fell dead from his perch upon the floor of his cage." Another owner of a Bullfinch took a journey, and during his absence the Bullfinch appeared very mournfully silent; on the master's return, however, the bird was overwhelmed with delight, flapped its wings, and fluttered up and down, bowed its tiny head repeatedly, as it had been taught to do, at the same time pouring forth a song of welcome; suddenly all was silent—the little favorite lay at the bottom of the cage dead with joy.
If properly trained, the Bullfinch may be allowed to go in and out at will. A female was allowed one spring to fly into the garden, and for many days afterward the bird would fly about, returning occasionally into the house, but at last disappeared entirely until the following autumn; when lo! one morning she flew into the sitting room, as tame as ever. The following morning she was again set at liberty, and returned in the month of June with four of her young ones, apparently as confiding as before, and most desirous to persuade her little brood to consider her late master as a friend; but these endeavors proving futile, she again left, and in September once more made her appearance with three of her second family. She remained for a short time and then departed, but positively came back in the autumn without her little flock to pass the winter in her old home.
The following spring she was set at liberty for a third time, and was observed not long after to enter her cage, pick up some of her food, whilst her mate lingered upon a neighboring tree, and then flew away and was seen no more.