34 Song Birds. 



in treating them in this way, for pleasure certainly 

 there would not be in it ; but I strongly advise those 

 who want quickly to stock their aviary, to be con- 

 tented with what some few pairs will do. It is 

 enough too : a single pair will often build four times 

 in a summer, laying four or five eggs each time, and 

 sitting for thirteen days. 



Prize birds there are, too, for very ambitious 

 people, and none of these I think are much prettier 

 than the crested, bright Jonque birds (the colour of 

 a jonquille), with full black tufts looking like black 

 wigs. 



To gain a prize, however, a great deal of care is< 

 necessary, and the rules vary so often that there is 

 hardly time to keep up with their rapid changes. 

 There are Belgians (the present ugly fashion), 

 Lizards, Jonques, mealy (yellow and white), and the 

 fancy kinds, all amongst prize birds. Some Canaries 

 have red eyes ; but this gives a look of weakness, and 

 they are very delicate. 



The wild Canary is of a very dark greenish brown 

 hue, almost as dark as an English Linnet, and 

 excessively graceful and pretty in its movements. 



For birds merely to keep, however, the very nicest 

 I think are the beautiful little German birds, of which 

 quantities come over every year about Christmas. 

 This breed is rather delicate and exquisitely pretty, 

 small, neatly made, quiet, graceful things, with very 



