256 



Birds. 



and appeared quite stiff for half-an-hour ; till at length, 

 with much trembling and deep respirations, he came 

 gradually to himself." 



Some years ago, a Frenchman exhibited in London 

 twenty-four Canary-birds, many of which he said were 

 from eighteen to twenty-five years of age. Some of 

 these balanced themselves, head downward, on their 

 shoulders, having their legs and tail in the air. One of 

 them taking a slender stick in its claws, passed its head 

 between its legs, and suffered itself to be turned round, 

 as if in the act of being roasted. Another balanced itself, 

 and was swung backward and forward on a kind of a slack 

 rope. A third was dressed in military uniform, having 

 a cap on its head, wearing a sword and pouch, and carrying 

 a firelock in one claw : after some time sitting upright, 

 this bird, at the word of command, freed itself from its 

 dress, and flew away to the cage. A fourth suffered 

 itself to be shot at, and falling down as if dead, was put 

 into a little wheelbarrow, and wheeled away by one of 

 its comrades ! 



THE CHAFFINCH. (Fringffla coelebs.') 

 THE CHAFFINCH is of the same dimensions as the sparrow, 



