104 The Canary. 



plumage. If you pair for several seasons the lightest 

 mealies procurable, you will have white and flaxen- 

 coloured birds, and so you may go on producing varie- 

 ties innumerable. For our own part, however, we 

 recommend the system of like producing like, keeping 

 these clear and distinct, rather than crossing and re- 

 crossing as above described ; but, above all, the breeding 

 of self-coloured birds rather than of irregularly or 

 fancifully marked birds we now too often see. 



" Rejoice, my merry little mate, 



The blithesome spring is coming, 

 When thou shalt roam, with heart elate, 



To hear the wild hee humming ; 

 To hear the wild bee humming round 



The primrose sweetly blowing, 

 And listen to each gentle sound 



Of gladsome music flowing. 



" The birds shall sing from many a bower, 



Joy like thy own obeying ; 

 And round full many a blooming flower 



The butterfly be playing 

 Be playing, love, on wings as light 



As heart in thy young bosom, 

 And showing tints as fair and bright 



As does the opening blossom. 



" The snowdrops by our garden walk 



Long since to life have started < 

 They wither now upon the stalk ; 



Their beauty is departed 

 Their beauty is departed. But 



Flowers in the fields are springing, 

 Which by and bye shall ope and shut, 



As to the glad birds singing. 



