Origin of our own Canaria. 15 



to dispose of, and the prices they would unquestionably 

 fetch. Supposing, we argued, we had four pairs of 

 birds in each aviary, and each pair bred twice a year 

 only, and reared four young birds each time, a very 

 moderate calculation, we considered, seeing that many 

 writers put them down as breeding generally three and 

 sometimes four times a season, and having five and six 

 at a brood, and supposing that each pair only fetched 

 five shillings, then it was pretty clear that we should 

 not only pay our expenses, but realise a considerable 

 profit besides. Thus, like the enthusiastic milkmaid in 

 the fable, did we hoist our basket of eggs upon our 

 heads, and count our chickens before they were hatched. 

 The birds, however, were not yet bought that were to 

 produce these golden dreams; and the question was, 

 how and by whom the necessary capital was to be 

 raised. Judy, as the owner of dicky, wanted to go 

 shares with me in all that were bought, so that she 

 might have an interest in each pair, and share in the 

 profits they were to bring. Agnes was of the same 

 mind, and wished to do the same, while Gerty was in- 

 different, Letty too prudent, and poor Polly, as usual, 

 unable. This, however, I thought would dip too deeply 

 into their exchequer ; so I compromised the matter by 

 allowing the two former to advance ten shillings each 

 from their own funds, and to beg another ten for the 

 purpose from their granny, and I would find the remain- 

 der, the whole to be divided into so many shares, accord- 

 ing to the capital ultimately required, and each receiving 

 a proportionate amount of the profits that should be 

 made. Thus Judy, Agnes, and myself, entered into a 



