CANARY BIRDS. 87 



tried many experiments, and having, more- 

 over, not a high, opinion of the female en- 

 dowments, he banished all hen birds from 

 his enclosure. He says, " It is deplorably 

 odd that when two or three of the gentler 

 sex are met together, they can never be long 

 in each other's company without there being 

 a ' row.' It was so with our colony. We 

 thoughtlessly left the ladies and gentlemen 

 together, and the results were awful; but 

 we rectified our error. Every kdy bird was 

 withdrawn, and the gentlemen vocalists left 

 alone in their glory." Mr. Kidd had a great 

 variety of birds together, and no wonder 

 they quarrelled and fought; besides, there 

 was such a crowd that their nests were rob- 

 bed and destroyed by those whose only ex- 

 cuse was, that "'twas their nature to." 

 There was a " thrush that was ready at a 

 moments notice to ' assist 7 any of the rival 

 malcontents in a crusade against the eggs 

 and young. No sooner were the latter born 

 we did succeed in getting a few broods 



