BIRDS. 271 



In choosing the Canary-bird, those are best that aj)pear with 

 life and boldness, standing upright upon the perch like ii spar- 

 row-hawk, and not apt to be frighted at every thing that stirs. 

 If its eyes look cheerful, and not drowsy, it is a sign of health ; 

 but, on the contr.iry, if it hides its head under the wing, and 

 gathers its body up, these are symptoms of its being out of order. 

 In choosing them, the melody of the song should also be minded ; 

 some will open with the notes of the nightingale, and, running 

 through a variety of modulations, end like the tit-lark. Others 

 will begin like the sky-lark, and, by a soft melodious turn, fall 

 into the notes of the nightingale. These are lessons taught this 

 bird in its domestic state, and generally taught it by others ; but 

 its native note is loud, shrill, piercing, and enough to deafen the 

 hearers. There are persons who admire each of these songs, 

 but the second is in the most general estimation. 



Canary-birds sometimes breed all the year round ; but they 

 most usually begin to pair in April, and to breed in June and 



accuracy with which this last order was obeyed, wound up the applause (in 

 which all the musicians joined, as well with their instruments as their clap- 

 pingi*,) to the highest pitch of admiration. Bijou himself seemed to feel the 

 sacred tliirst of fame, and shook liis little plumes, and carolled an lo pwan, 

 that sounded like the conscious notes of victory. " Thou hast done all my 

 biddings bravely," said the master, caressing his feathered servant ; " now 

 then take a nap, while I take thy place. Hereupon the Canary went into 

 a counterfeit slumber, so like the effect of the poppied god, first shutting 

 one eye, then the other, then nodding, then dropping so much on one side, 

 that the hands of several of the company were stretched out to save liim 

 from falling ; and just as their hands approached his feathers suddenly re- 

 covering, and droppin,"? as much on the other. At length sleep seemed to 

 fix him in a steady posture ; whereupon the owner took him from his 

 finger, and laid him flat on the table, where the mau assured us he would 

 remain in a good sound sleep, while he himself had the honour to do his best 

 to fill up the interval. Accordingly, after drinking a glass of wine, (in the 

 progress of which he was interrupted by the Canary-bird springing suddenly 

 up, to assert his right to a share, really putting his little bill into the glass, 

 and then laying himself down to sleep again ;) the owner called him a saucy 

 fellow, and began to show off his own independent powers of entertaining, 

 when a huge black cat, wlio had long been on the watch, sprung unobserved, 

 from a corner, upon the table, seized the poor Canary in its mouth, and 

 rushed out of the window in spite of op])osition. And though the room 

 was deserted in an instant, it was a vain pursuit ; the life of the poor bird 

 was gone ; aud its mangled body was brought in by the <iiifoi-tiinat<! owner, 

 auder such dismay, and accompanied by such looks and language, as would 

 liave awakened pity in a misanthrope 



