58 The Canary. 



CHAPTER IX. 



OUR CINNAMONS. 



HE first cinnamon, or fawn-coloured canary we 

 ever saw, was one in the old bird-fancier's cage 

 who stood in the market at the time of our 

 visit recorded in our second chapter. At that time we 

 had not yet formed any definite idea in our minds as to 

 breeding, or indeed of having an aviary at all. But 

 now this had taken place, and become as the French 

 say iin fait accompli, we sorely regretted the opportu- 

 nity we had missed in not making a purchase. As our 

 plan of operations developed itself, and breeds of diff'erent 

 localities and countries^ as well as varieties of colour, 

 were decided upon, we sighed to think that we might 

 never have such a chance again. Weeks and months 

 passed on without our seeing anything of the kind, 

 when, calling one day at Mr. M — 's shop, what should 

 we see in a cage just brought in by a countryman for 

 sale, but the very bird we had let slip in the market 

 some months before ! Here was a piece of good luck, 

 I thought, which could never have been expected ! 

 Unfortunately, however, Mr. M — was out of town, 

 and the stranger had only contingently offered the 

 birds for sale in a lot, and had now departed. As he 

 was an entire stranger, and they knew neither his 

 name nor address, I left word with the man in charge 

 of the shop to be sure and tell jNIr. M — to buy the 

 cinnamon bird specially for me. The next day we all 



