104 The Canary. 



plumage. If you pair fo^everal seasons the lightest 

 mealies procurable, you will have white and flaxen- 

 coloured birds, and so you may go on producing varie- 

 ties innumerable. For our own part, however, we 

 recommend the system of like producing like, keeping 

 these clear and distinct, rather than crossing and re- 

 crossing as above described ; but, above all, the breeding 

 of self-coloured birds rather than of irregularly or 

 fancifully marked birds we now too often see. 



" Rejoice, my merry little mate. 



The blithesome spring is coming. 

 When thou shalt roam, with heart elate. 



To hear the wild bee humming ; 

 To hear the wild bee humming round 



The primrose sweetly blowing. 

 And listen to each gentle sound 



Of gladsome music flowing. 



" The birds shall sing from many a bower, 



Joy like thy own obeying ; 

 And round full many a blooming flower 



The butterfly be playing — 

 Be playing, love, on wings as light 



As heart in thy young bosom. 

 And showing tints as fair and bright 



As does the opening blossom. 



*' The snowdrops by our garden walk 



Long since to life have started— 

 They wither now npon the stalk ; 



Tlieir beauty is departed — 

 Their beauty is departed. But 



Flowers in the fields are springing. 

 Which by and bye shall ope and shut. 



As to the glad birds singing. 



