TO The Canary. 



establishment into a scene of unceasing uproar and 

 confusion. We had still to find, however, another pair 

 and a half to make up what we had decided should be 

 the full complement of our number. What kind or 

 variety these should be we had not positively determined, 

 but left it an open question to be decided by the chance 

 and circumstance of the hour. One day I saw in the 

 shop one of the richest and deepest orange-coloured 

 birds I ever looked upon, and Mr. M — strongly re- 

 commended me to buy him. I hesitated, however, 

 about the price, which was ten shillings, not because I 

 thought the bird too dear, but because I wished to 

 spend as little more money over them as I could. We 

 thought over the matter for a day or two, when w^e 

 finally decided to stretch a point for the occasion, and 

 for this purpose Judy and I went down that day to buy 

 him. Alas ! we had driven the matter off too long,. 

 for just as we had entered the shop, Mr. M — was tying 

 up the very bird w^e had come to purchase, in a parcel 

 for another purchaser who had just bought him. We 

 were much disappointed, and very vexed at our own 

 delay, but it was of no use, the bird was actually sold. 

 He was of the Belgian breed, and though not possess- 

 ing very great development of shoulder, or points for a 

 fancier's eye, yet one of the most beautiful and elegant 

 birds I ever saw. In colour, he was a deep orange, not 

 the least inclining to yellow, but quite red, whilst his 

 feathers were of that silky flossy texture which, when 

 met with in full perfection, is the climax of beauty. 

 In so saying, however, 1 would not be understood as 

 advocating the choice of a w^eak-feathered bird, or as 



