The Dominie and the Germans. 85 



one or two in his place, so great is their attraction in 

 the eyes of the people who are thus privileged to hear 

 them sing. 



Observing that Seraph, whom we purchased from a 

 German dealer, had, though full-grown, acquired in a 

 very short time the song of the German birds with 

 whom he had been only accidentally associated, I felt 

 persuaded that we had only to get a good songster from 

 the fatherland, and to place our young birds under his 

 tuition, and they would soon be as proficient as their 

 teacher. I determined, therefore, to get one the first 

 opportunity I might have, and at all events make the 

 experiment. For this we had not long to wait, as 

 about the end of February, Mr. M — set off for the con- 

 tinent and brought hack a large number of Germans, 

 amonojst which were some excellent sonsrsters. As I 

 entered the shop, one gush of melody burst upon my 

 enraptured ear, each bird striving to outdo its neigh- 

 bour in the length and beauty of its song. It seemed, 

 indeed, like the rippling of a thousand streams mur- 

 muring in silvery and liquid tones over some pebbly 

 bed, so exquisitely soft and incessant was the strain. 

 But how amongst so many shall we even attempt to 

 make a choice ? Amongst so much excellence how are 

 we to proceed ? Surely it must be to a great extent a 

 matter of chance whether we get the bird whose song 

 we like most to hear. One bird may be better than 

 another for its melody or its looks, or vice versa, as the 

 •case may be — how amongst so many obtain the one most 

 to our liking ? "Well, there is no chance in the matter, 

 .the nature and quality of each bird's song is accurately 



