92 THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



How to make "Watebpeooe Walks. — The ground must be 

 previously levelled, then put on it a coat of tar, and sift some road 

 sand or coal-ashes all over it very thickly ; after this is dry repeat 

 the operation until you have got four coats of tar, and as many of 

 coal-ashes or road sand. You will then have an excellent clean, dry, 

 hard path. It will make excellent walks, or floors for sheds, out- 

 buildings, &c, and will wear for many years. 



CAEABY BIRDS. 



HE plumage, pretty form, and docility ; the charming 

 familiarity which disposes it to nestle without fear or 

 reserve beside us ; and, above all, its melodious song, 

 have long introduced the canary to all classes of 

 society. Buffbn, speaking of this beautiful and uni- 

 versal favourite, says : " If the nightingale is the chantress of the 

 woods, the caDary is the musician of the chamber ; the first owes 

 all to nature, the second something to art. "With less strength of 

 organ, less compass of voice, and less variety of note, the canary has 

 a better ear, greater facility of imitation, and a more retentive 

 memory ; and, as the difference of genius, especially among the 

 lower animals, depends in a great measure on the perfection of their 

 senses, the canary, whose organ of hearing is more susceptible of 

 receiving and retaining foreign impressions, becomes more social, 

 tame, and familiar ; is capable of gratitude and even of attachment ; 

 its caresses are endearing, its little humours innocent, and its anger 

 neither hurts nor offends. Its education is easy ; we rear it with 

 pleasure, because we are able to instruct it. It leaves the melody 

 of its own natural note, to listen to the melody of our voices and 

 instruments. It applauds, it accompanies us, and repays the plea- 

 sure it receives with interest ; while the nightingale, more proud of 

 its talent, seems desirous of preserving it in all its purity, at least it 

 appears to attach very little to ours, and it is with great difficulty it 

 can be taught any of our airs. The canary can speak and whistle ; 

 the nightingale despises words, as well as our airs, and never fails to 

 return to its own wild wood notes. Its pipe is a masterpiece of 

 nature, which human art can neither alter nor improve ; while that 

 of the canary is a model of more pliant materials, which we cau 

 mould at pleasure ; and therefore it contributes in a much greater 

 degree to the comforts of society. It sings at all seasons, cheers us 

 in the dullest weather, and adds to our happiness by amusing the 

 young and delighting the recluse, charming the tediousness of the 

 cloister, and gladdening the soul of the innocent aud captive." 



We think we shall be rendering an acceptable service to many of 

 our readers by giving a few plain directions for the treatment of 

 these pretty warblers ; for which we are chiefly indebted to a 

 useful, though little- appreciated work, entitled, "Cage Birds,'' 

 by Dr. Bechstein, and which our own experience has shown to be 

 judicious. 



