MISCELLANIES. 



THE PRETTY BIRDS — COMPLIMENT RETURNED. 



Our readers will remember that we recently published a good 

 article headed " Spare the Birds," at the same time expressing a 

 hope that it would be heeded by every man and boy in the land. 

 tt was an earnest plea in behalf of the feathered tribe, based upon 

 their natural rights, their usefulness in the destruction of insects, 

 the gratification to the eye afforded by their plumage and motion, 

 and to the ear by their music. The claims of humanity were also 

 urged. 



This publication was made on Wednesday morning last ; and in 

 the course of the day it was scattered far and wide. The joy and 

 gratitude which it diffused among the birds, may be estimated from 

 the fact, that on the following morning they waited upon the wri- 

 ter's family in a body, at his residence in New-Haven, — the num- 

 ber present being, as nearly as could be calculated, from 2500 to 

 8000. The blue-birds sent the largest delegation ; next, the 

 robins ; then the canker-birds, snow-birds, &c. As it was impos- 

 sible for so large a number to be received in person, the greater 

 portion of them very considerately took their positions on the dif- 

 ferent trees and fences about the yard, while a sub-committee of 

 about 250, comprising, say, 100 blue-birds, 75 robins, 40 canker- 

 birds, and 35 snow-birds, with perhaps small representations from 

 other tribes, presented themselves near the window of the sitting- 

 room, most of them gathering around, upon, or among the branches 

 of a young cedar 25 feet distant j and such a chirping, fluttering, 

 and cooing, — such pretty colors and motions, have rarely been 

 heard and seen before. Not only the sub-committee, but the whole 

 delegation, from every tree and shrub and picket, raised a grand 

 chorus, such as was never heard before, nor anything in compari- 

 son to it, by any who witnessed the celebration. The only 

 mortifying circumstance is, that the writer was not present^ (other- 

 wise we should probably have a speech to report,) having been 

 engaged at his usual drudgery in New-York. The sub-committee 

 were however entertained in the best manner which circumstances 

 would permit ; an ample repast being provided for them,- — for the 

 cedar was covered with berries, — which they partook of with an 



