The Natural History of Cage Birds: Their Management, Habits, Food, Diseases, Treatment, Breeding, and the Methods of Catching Them.Bechstein, Johann Matthäus
Science
The Natural History of Cage Birds: Their Management, Habits, Food, Diseases, Treatment, Breeding, and the Methods of Catching Them.
Bechstein, Johann Matthäus
Cage birds
ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--Although the song of the male and female
bullfinch, in their wild state, is very harsh and disagreeable, yet
if well taught while young, as they are in Hesse and Fulda, where
there are schools of these little musicians, for all Germany,
Holland, and England, they learn to whistle all kinds of airs and
melodies with so soft and flute-like a tone, that they are great
favourites with amateurs, and particularly with the ladies. There are
some of these little birds which can whistle distinctly three
different airs, without spoiling or confusing them in the least.
Added to this attraction the bullfinch becomes exceedingly tame,
sings whenever it is told to do so, and is susceptible of a most
tender and lasting attachment, which it shows by its endearing
actions; it balances its body, moves its tail from right to left, and
spreads it like a fan. It will even repeat words, with an accent and
tone which indicates sensibility, if one could believe that it
understood them; but its memory must not be overloaded. A single air,
with a prelude or a short flourish to begin with, is as much as the
bird can learn and remember, and this it will execute to the greatest
perfection. These little prodigies would be more interesting and
agreeable, if their Hessian instructors possessed a little musical
taste, but these are generally tradespeople, employed about the house
with their different occupations and trades; and hymns, airs, and
minuets of a hundred years old, public house songs, or some learnt of
their apprentices, in general compose the whole of their music.
The bullfinch can also imitate the songs of other birds; but in
general it is not permitted to do so, that it may only learn to
repeat the airs which are taught it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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