166 TREATISE ON 



That same bli*d used to come, when called, to the 

 head or hand, run away with the ladies' thread 

 and needles, which it carefully deposited in one 

 corner of the cage ; stopping, and often looking 

 round, as if it were for encouragement or applause : 

 But one of its favourite amusements was to perch, 

 and sing among the branches of some tall old mjT- 

 tles which stood in the same window where hung 

 its frequently-open cage. Towards autumn, it 

 was usual to set its cage on a green teiTace in the 

 garden, where at first, it (the canary,) hopped a- 

 bout with much wonder and seeming fear at so 

 large a demesne ; at length acquiring courage to 

 try its little wing, it ventured fii'st to the shelter 

 of a laurel, from whence it was speedily recalled, 

 and then a farther flight, to a willow grove close 

 by a stream, where the ephemeral insects that 

 rise from water seemed to afford it (as it darted 

 at them among the %villow leaves,) a delicious ban- 

 quet. Towards evening, Dickie always returned 

 to his cage, the exit or entrance to which was at 

 last optional to himself. But we gi'ieve to say 

 this license was finally his ruin ; for the poor ca- 

 nary was found dead one Sunday, killed by a 

 young pointer, who, like Dickie, was a privileged 

 vagrant. 



