2'2S CAXAJtIES AND CAGE-BIRDS. 



squares of our great cities. Albino specimens, both the clear white and the speckled 

 varieties, may be seen among these birds. 



The most remarkable specimens of this class of birds appear in the birds which 

 have the jet-black plumage, as in the case of the Crow and English Blackbird. It 

 appears that the Black family are blessed with more than their share of Albinos : 

 such complete transformations as appear in these cases are hard to be believed. 

 The "White Crow, to be sure, loses the mischievous twinkle of the eye, which is a 

 characteristic of his black brother ; but he can hoe out a cornfield, smell gunpowder, 

 or make friends with the scarecrow, equally as well as the other members of his tribe. 

 The English Blackbird's merry song is poured forth as richly and not more purely 

 from the white throat than from the dusky one. 



This remarkable appearance extends, probably, to all classes of birds ; although it 

 may not have been witnessed in the rarer specimens, because of the slight opportu- 

 nities afforded of seeing large numbers of them. In some families of birds the 

 specimens are much less rarely seen than in others. In the Canary family, the 

 largest and most numerous known, I have never seen the true Albino ; although 

 pure-white Canaries are sometimes bred. It is, however, on record, that one of the 

 Albino class was exhibited in England years ago, and created a great deal of com- 

 ment and argument. Probably in the wild state, before cross-breeding was intro- 

 duced among them, the Canary family had also its share of Albinos. 



In England, Albinos of any class of birds are eagerly sought for ; and, when a 

 bird-catcher is fortunate enough to trap one, he may be sure of a large reward. The 

 best-known English cage-birds Goldfinches, Linnets, Blackcaps, Thrushes, Siskins. 

 Starlings, and Skylarks all have specimens of the Albin'o among them. A speci- 

 men of the English Nightingale Albino was recently caught, and is exhibited as one 

 of the wonders of the bird family. 



In our own countries the different bird families are represented by specimens of 

 Albinos, the unmistakable white being seen either clear or in specks. In most 

 cases the parents of Albinos breed but one specimen in a brood of birds, the re- 

 mainder of the nest having the natural colors of his race. Near Springfield, Mass., 

 a pair of common American Robins reared yearly for several years an entire nest 

 of Albinos ; they were beautiful specimens of their class : and, as the pair usually 

 bred near the same spot each year, the nest was eagerly watched : and the young 

 birds, when old enough to be taken from the nest, were caught, and reared by hand. 

 I have had many of the birds reared by this pair, and in every instance they were 

 exceptionally fine in color and appearance. The feathers were clear white, no spot 

 or blemish being visible to mar the purity of the color. The unmistakable shape of 

 the body, and manners of the bird, and his notes, could not be concealed by his 

 milky-white plumage and beautiful pink eyes. They were most excellent song- 

 sters, and very tame and unusually affectionate. 



It is said that the Albinos are naturally tamer than the common members of the 

 family to which they may belong. Whether this is inferred from the meek appear- 

 ance which his snowy coat gives him, I do not know ; but it is a fact, that the expe- 

 rience which I have had with the different specimens that have been in my possession 

 makes me believe that they are not so wild as the common birds. 



The appearance of an Albino in a bird-shop results in a series of questions by 



