XIV PROCEEDINGS. 



and a porch groaning under the weight of the honeysuckles and Virginia 

 creepers which have seized upon it. Several pairs of antlers of moose and 

 deer adorn the sides under the roof; and tall poles, bearing painted minia- 

 ture cottages, are planted around for the express benefit of such birds as 

 will take advantage of the gratuitous lodging thus afforded, and the offer 

 of free board with the well-fed poultry in the yard a spacious enclosure 

 with a large, clear pond fed by a stream from the hill-side in the rear, and 

 shaded by shrubberies, through which are cut prettily-winding walks in 

 every direction. 



Here we probably find the owner himself spreading Indian corn 

 broadcast amongst a rude, greedy assembly of every kind of fowl 

 land-fowl and water-fowl, great thick-thighed cochins and diminutive 

 bantams, hearty swans which come up to the banquet, with a hasty, 

 waddling gait ill befitting their dignity, and fat, glossy ducks of every hue 

 that at once suggest the idea of comestibles in the shape of green pease. 

 In fact, I was about to pass them over as being, in the language of the 

 advertisers, " too numerous to mention," but as Downs himself is engaged 

 in feeding them, it is worth our while to stay and hear him expatiate on 

 their beauties and peculiarities; for he is a quick, sharp-sighted, and 

 enthusiastic naturalist, and will point out things which we should other- 

 wise have never thought of noticing. " There are days," he says, " when 

 the light seems to bring out the colours on birds' feathers which you 

 would never see in dull weather, days when all nature seems brightened 

 up by the peculiar state of the atmosphere; when the trees seem greener, 

 when the sky has a greater softness and depth than commonly, and your 

 own feelings are in tune with all around. Look at that wild turkey as he 

 comes swelling along, and the sun's rays light up the wonderful metallic 

 hues on the neck, back and sides, hues of bronze, and green, and orange- 

 copper, which now and then flash with the brilliancy of the humming bird's 

 plumage." A pair of pigeons alight at your feet, bowing and scraping 

 around. Perhaps a delicate plum-bloom appears to colour their necks and 

 breasts; but in a moment they burn with emerald green, and in another 

 with the sparkling tints of hyacinth or topaz. These brilliant greens 

 placed on a subdued ground-colour, and changing into the gleaming tints 

 of precious minerals, are favourite touches of nature's pencil from 

 amongst the wide range of colours with which she has so lavishly painted 

 the plumage of birds. The beautiful pencil marking on the silver Ham- 

 burgs are pointed out to us, and the bright golden spangles on another 

 variety of domestic fowls. The uncomfortable appearance of the little 

 fowls from China with all their feathers curled back, and the curious blue 

 ear-lobes of the Japanese, which have a blue skin underneath their white 

 feathers and blue bones likewise; the beautiful green velvet jacket which 

 sits so trim and close on the East Indian duck, are all brought under 

 notice by the zealous exhibitor, and the uncouth stay, I have used a 

 wrong word, and shall be presently corrected by Downs himself, with whom 



