Origin of our own Canaria. 7 



CHAPTER II. 



ORIGIN OF OUR OWN CANARIA. 



1IKE many a greater undertaking, our canaria 

 had its origin in a very small beginning. Its 

 first traces, I believe, are to be found in a well- 

 meant gift of a kind granny to my daughter Judy, who, 

 I may as well say, once for all, was evidently " born to 

 love pigs and poultry," and which consisted of a common 

 yellow canary purchased in the market of my native 

 town. Had I been able to foresee the result of this very 

 questionable action, it is more than likely that I should 

 have exclaimed, with Mr. Jorrocks, of famous fox- 

 hunting celebrity and renown : (< Confound all pre- 

 seijts wot eats ;" while she, I think, would hardly have 

 consented to be the innocent cause of such a large 

 expenditure in cages, birds, and seed, as that which has 

 since taken place. Happily, however, for Judy, I was 

 no seer, and granny was not gifted, like the famous 

 heroine of Lucknow, with second sight. The purchase 

 was made on the eve of our return home from an annual 

 visit we pay into "the shires;" and back dicky was 

 brought to the smoky city of Manchester, where for 

 many years it was our lot to be located. Of this bird I 

 remember little, save that he was a good yellow, pos- 

 sessed a very amiable disposition, and was a most 

 uproarious songster. Indeed, so noisy was he during 

 lessons, that my wife was obliged to/cover his cage with 

 a cloth before ever she began to teach, which the chil- 

 dren, of course, voted a great shame. He lived a 



