6 INTRODUCTION. 



linnet, yellowhammer, &c. Like the soft-billed 

 birds, they get much attached to those who are 

 kind to them ; and some of them have been known 

 to die when deprived of their benefactors. They 

 are also susceptible of friendship amongst them- 

 selves. Foremost in this division ranks the ca- 

 nary, followed by the siskin, linnet, redpole, gold- 

 finch, bullfinch, &c. 



It is rather remarkable that all our finest song- 

 birds have but few showy colours in their plu- 

 mage. This, we believe, has been observed with 

 respect to the best songsters of both the old and 

 new continents; while those possessed of beauty 

 and brilliancy of plumage have generally nei« 

 ther melody nor song; — ^no notes, but what are 

 disagreeable screams, or harsh grating sounds. 

 How finely this illustrates the difference between 

 modest merit, dressed in a plain garb, and that 

 gaudy, meretricious, external show, Avhich vain and 

 silly individuals think will supply the place of in- 

 ternal worth. 



Ought not the operations of Nature, or, in 

 other words, the power and benificence of that 

 great and good Being, who directs aU her func- 

 tions, and whose divine influence formed and 

 pervades all created matter, continually to call 

 forth our admiration ? — and ought not our hearts 



