Our London Fancy Birds. 41 



for a cock, and a mealy hen, according to general re- 

 commendation, with a dark-crested head, for his com- 

 panion, which we put into two paper-bags, and started 

 back on our return. But the wind again blew a hurri- 

 cane, and the rain poured down incessantly, so that 

 Judy and I could hardly make head against it. To 

 secure the birds, therefore, from the violence of the 

 tempest, I transferred them to my hat, which I pressed 

 firmly on my head. In this way we wended our weary 

 uphill way back, bravely bearing up against the pitiless 

 storm, and darkening night, caring little for either 

 wind or weather. Though the distance was full five 

 miles, Judy declared she would have walked twice as 

 much, rather than have lost the chance of securing such 

 a prize. At length we reached home, where a cheerful 

 fire and comfortable tea were awaiting our arrival, 

 and made us soon forget all the discomforts of our 

 journey. 



Before bit or drop, however, was tasted, a host of 

 inquiries had to be answered, and the eyes of the ex- 

 pectant group, who now gathered clamorously around 

 us to know the result of our expedition, must be 

 gratified! No sooner did they see the well-known 

 little bags produced than, as might have been anti- 

 cipated, their anxiety knew no bounds, to catch a 

 glimpse of the expected prize ! Every foot-fall for 

 some time had been listened to with anxious expecta- 

 tion, and now they could wait no longer. So whilst 

 we pull off our wet clothes, they willingly prepare a 

 cage, and into it we soon turn our much-prized trea- 

 sures. The rich plumage of the one, and the sprightly 



