Prince Charming and his Charming Princess. 73 



if any of the latter through politeness offered her a 

 hemp seed, or other little delicate attention, she either 

 pointedly resented their advances, or sullenly took her- 

 self off to another quarter of the cage, evidently affronted 

 at their presumption. With the Lizards, the York- 

 shire, the London, or the cinnamon birds she would not 

 associate at all, and was always, whilst in their com- 

 pany, mopish and dull. But taking her away from 

 these, and placing her in company with the Belgian 

 and Belgian-bred birds, she all at once became visibly 

 more lively and sociable, so that I thought it a pity so 

 much loveliness should be " born to blush unseen, and 

 waste its fragrance on the desert air." 



Observing this peculiarity in her disposition, and re- 

 membering how the proverb said that " birds of a fea- 

 ther always flock together," I at once got a clue to guide 

 me in the choice of her mate. She was evidently of 

 Belgian extraction herself, so I determined at once to 

 buy the first mealy coloured, or, as they are called by 

 fanciers, buff Belgian cock that I liked for her lord. 

 This we soon afterwards accomplished at Mr. M — 's, 

 making up eight pairs of very different and beautiful 

 birds. Our last purchase proved a charming bird, of 

 very amiable disposition and sociable manners, taking 

 seed from our hand, and repaying us with a flood of 

 song, drooping his wings the while like some angelic 

 spirit about to soar aloft to heaven. Very beautiful is 

 it to see his quivering pinions bending in a graceful 

 curving arch towards his breast, as dancing with delight 

 he greets you with a passionate address, and 



* Shakes out of bis little throat floods of delicious music." 



