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among the breeders, as all dealers are anxious to procure 

 the best birds, so as to dispose of them at higher prices. 

 If there is one breeder known to possess superior 

 birds over another in the place, the latter tries watchfully 

 to procure some of the former's stock, and if successful 

 in doing so, is compelled to pay a very high price. 



This desire to procure some of those first-rate birds 

 is often carried to a great extent. 



There has been lately a great number of canaries 

 raised in this country, but the breeders, not having the 

 opportunity, as they have in Germany, of introducing the 

 young ones into the society of the nightingale, the sky- 

 lark, &c., &c., have failed of producing such very sweet 

 singers — although considered by many to be equal. 

 Their notes are generally so shrill and unpleasant that 

 many cannot bear them in the room with them. 



The qualities of the canary, such as its melodious 

 song, beautiful plumage, and docility, have long made it a 

 great favorite. If this bird were not so common among us, 

 we would appreciate it more than we do. What can be 

 more delightful on a winter's day, when confined to our 

 room by the weather, or any other cause, than to have a 

 couple of those sweet warblers, who seem to thake par- 

 ticular delight to cheer us with their song, as if by instinct 

 they knew we wanted something to enliven us, and cause 

 the time to pass away more cheerfully ? Or, again, what 

 can be more amusing than to have a pair of them breed- 

 ing, to obseve how active they are in building their nest, 

 how attentive to their young ones ; how quick they come 

 down to the cup when fresh food is put in, take a beakful, 



