96 The Cananj. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



PREPARATIONS FOR BREEDING, TIME, MANNER, AND 

 OBJECT OF PAIRING. 



AVING thus completed our stock of birds, the 

 time was now at hand for their proper assort- 

 ment. Notwithstanding the popular rural 

 tradition that on St. Valentine's Day each bird of the 

 air chooses its mate, and that we had the express 

 license of old Chaucer to put up the banns of union on 

 so auspicious a day, we decline to begin so early. 

 Though as anxious as any one to commence these im- 

 portant preliminaries, and though the weather just then 

 happened to be peculiarly favorable and tempting, we 

 thought it better to wait a little longer, for fear we 

 might find to our cost that in the more haste there is 

 often the worst speed. In vain did the oldest of our 

 English poets proclaim his mandate in our ears, saying, 



*' Foules take heed of my sentence, I pray. 



And for your own ease in fordring of your need. 

 As fast as I may speak, I will me speed : 

 Ye know well how, on St. Valentine's day. 



By my statute, and through my governaunce. 

 Ye do chuse your mates, and after flie away 

 With him, as I move you with plesaunce." 



We do not believe anything is to be gained by com- 

 mencing operations so early, for even should a person 



