April 1, 1870.] 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



85 



after a day of toil and care, comes home to rest, 

 and whistles down the bird to share his evening 

 meal. "Man and the bird"— are they not some- 

 thing more than " the voice of the world" ? 



The first four parts before us of a new Book of 

 Birds promises to be a greater favourite than any 

 of the Books of Birds yet presented in an English 

 dress. A popular work, on such a popular theme, 

 could scarce fail to be popular, provided author and 



finch. " A friend of ours," says the author, " pos- 

 sessed a bird of this species, which he had reared 

 and trained himself. The cage was hung quite low, 

 so that visitors could approach. When its owner 

 wished it to sing a tune that it had learnt with 

 great exactness, he went to the cage, called his 

 favourite by name, bowed three times, and each 

 time was answered by the bird with great liveliness 

 and joy. After the third salute the little creature 







*\ 



V r-i 1 \"> .^"V* 



Fig. 97. The Waved Parrot (Melopsittacus undalatus). j 



publisher failed not in their duty to themselves. In 

 the present instance there is already sufficient evi- 

 dence that both appreciate their work and intend 

 to perform it. Is it not enough that a Book on 

 Birds by Brehm, translated by Professor Rymer 

 Jones, and illustrated by full-page coloured plates 

 and a profusion of woodcuts, should be announced, 

 to insure an extensive sale, and leave us nothing to 

 do but to commend ? 

 L We open casually at page 105. It is the Bull- 



commenced its exquisite song, singing it perfectly, 

 and then pausing to receive its master's bow of 

 satisfaction, exhibiting at the same time signs of 

 much delight if praised for its efforts. One cir- 

 cumstance in this performance was remarkable : it 

 would respond to and perform, after receiving the 

 necessary salutes from any man, but utterly refused 

 to obey the signs or commands of a lady. A female 

 relation of its owner tried to entrap the bird, by 

 putting on its master's hat before approaching 



