314 



Canary Birds. 



[May I, 



The further we now advanced, the 

 holder hecame the aspect of the coun- 

 try, and: i^ seemed, as we ascended from 

 the comparatively level plains in the 

 vicinity of Caun-office, that we were 

 about to explore a wild and unknown 

 region, whose dark and lofty moun- 

 tains towered before ixs in sublime and 

 stupendous majesty ; and when we 

 considered that we should soon be in 

 the midst of the vast assemblage of 

 grandeur- which we beheld, we were 

 not entirely free from emotion of the 

 purest and most exalted character. 

 There is certainly a pleasure, and a 

 most elevated pleasure it is, in contem- 

 plating nature in all her varied forms ; 

 whethei in her most lovely and gentle 

 attire, or in her most rugged and tre- 

 mendous habiliments. And none, per- 

 haps, experiences this delight so for- 

 ci)>ly as the young and ardent poet. 

 " The oonlemplative race," says an 

 agreeable and sometimes elegant writer, 

 " even in the first steps towards nature, 

 are receiving that secret instruction 

 which no master can impart. The 

 youth of genius flies to some favourite 

 haunt, to which his fancy has often 

 given a name; he populates his soli- 

 tudes ; takes all^sliapes in it ; finds all 

 pleasure in it ; converses silently with 

 all about him ; is an hermit, a lover, 

 a hero. The fragrance and blush of the 

 morning I the calm, still, hush of even- 

 ing ; the mountain, the valley, and the 

 stream — all nature opening to him, he 

 sits brooding over his first dim images, 

 in delightful reverie, and is transported 

 to far distant scenes of love, and glory, 

 and magnificence, which exist only in 

 his own fervid imagination." 

 Endowed with all that nature can bestow, 

 The child of Fancy oft in silence bends 

 O'er the mixed treasures of his pregnant 



breast 

 With conscious pride. From then he oft 



resolves 

 To frame he knows not what excelling 



things, 

 And even he knows not what sublime re- 

 ward 



Of praise and wonder 



There are few persons of cultivated 

 minds who have not felt a spark of this 

 pure and holy rapture. " Who," asks 

 a modern critic, "remembers not an 

 hour of serious ecstasy, wlien, perhaps, 

 as he lay beneath somd old tree, and 

 gazed on the setting sun, earth seemed 

 a visionary thing, t^ie glories of immor- 

 tality were half revealed, and the first 

 notes of an universal harmony whis- 

 pered to his soul ? Some moments, 



when he seemed almost to realise the 

 eternal, and could be well contented to 

 yield up his mortal being? — some little 

 space, populous of high thoughts, and 

 disinterested resolves — some touch 

 upon tliat " line of limitless desires," 

 along which he shall live in a purer 

 sphere ?" Who, indeed ! He who has 

 not enjoyed the exstatic visitation, 

 has lost so unsullied and rapturous a 

 pleasure, that — we pity him. But re- 

 venons <i nos mouton.t. 



( To be continued,) 



To the Editor of the Monthly Magaune. 



SIR, 



I HAVE taken the freedom of ad- 

 dressing you on a little circum- 

 stance that hiis lately come under my 

 notice, respecting domiciliated birds. 

 The cage of my little Canary Bird be- 

 ing broken about twelve mouths ago in 

 sucha manner that his wafer could not 

 be supplied from the outside, I there- 

 fore, as a resource of necessity, filled 

 a tea-cup with clear water, antl placed 

 it inside his cage. He soon exhibitetl 

 signs of great delight in washing and 

 bathing in it ; observing this, I have 

 since taken care to supply him Mifh 

 fresh water nearly evei-y day, info 

 which he generally jumps, sometimes 

 ducking his head and covering his 

 back, and always cleaning his breast 

 and wing-feathers with his back, with 

 singular satisfaction. 



He has not his equal among my 

 neighbours for singing, and far exceed- 

 ing any that I see in licalth aiul clean- 

 liness, being totally free from gout or 

 nmmpishness. The family of this bird 

 is nearly extinct, not having had the 

 privilege of these salnfaiy ablutions. 

 I have much regretted that so many 

 hundi-ed pretty warblers who are con- 

 fined for life, should have their heallh 

 ruined by this deprivation, and also by 

 the general practice of putting lumps 

 of sugar info their cages, which is a 

 strong stimulant, and being of a very 

 glutinous nature, must be injurious to 

 their stomachs. I conceive fliat a little 

 sweet-bread or sponge-biscuit, also ripe 

 fruits are veiy wholesome for them, . 



" But water is best of all." ju.;v viw^. 



Ariston. 



liegenfs Park, March 3, 1821. 



To the Editor of the Monthly Magaaine. 



SIR, 



YOUR correspondent in your last 

 Number, page 136, thought that 

 he was in this country in the exclusive 

 possession 



