THE CANARY. 109 



it become, as to dart upon the ephemeral insects that 

 rose from a stream close by, and which appeared to 

 yield it a delicious banquet. 



In the spring of 1839, the writer visited the exhibition 

 in London of a " talking- canary." It was a beautiful 

 bird, which sang most melodiously, and in the course of 

 its carol distinctly articulated the words, " pretty queen ;" 

 " Mary ;" " sweet little Dickey, dear," and some others. 

 It was said to have had no instruction, but voluntarily 

 to have imitated some of the sounds it heard in a family 

 room where its cage was suspended. The writer asked 

 if, on discovering this singular power, its exhibitors 

 taught it any fresh words, but they replied they did not, 

 for fear it should lose any it could utter. The presence 

 of a large number of persons seemed rather to animate 

 than disturb this canary, for which, it was said, five 

 hundred guineas were offered and refused. It died in 

 the autumn of 1839. 



In the dexterity displayed by some birds, there is 

 reason to fear that much must have been endured in pre- 

 paratory discipline ; and no excuse can be offered for the 

 cruel treatment of inferior creatures. It is to be hoped 

 it was not suffered in the following instance, the most 

 remarkable with which the writer ever met. A native 

 of Prussia introduced a canary-bird to a party at Cleves, 



