and Aviaries 195 



Birds to those who understand them, and conse- 

 quently appreciate them, are a privilege which words 

 cannot duly express : a very wonderful and a very 

 beautiful part of a wonderful creation, 



A gift of the Creator, not lightly to be accepted, or 

 carelessly looked upon. 



Amongst the poorer classes there is very often a 

 lamentable absence of common sense about keeping 

 some poor little linnet, canary, goldfinch, or bullfinch 

 in a cleanly state. 



Neither is this lack due to an insufficient supply of 

 j(^, s. d., but rather to that of thought. 



It is the bird that may cost a few shillings to buy, 

 and the seed ; but the water is at hand always, and in 

 the country, sand also. 



I pity the poor thrushes and blackbirds, especially 

 in towns, that one sees imprisoned in some dirty, 

 filthy cage. 



The poor birds are, more often than not, minus 

 tails, except for a few broken stumps, and their flight 

 feathers not much better. 



The floor of the cage is a nasty, unsavoury smelling 

 collection of dirt and food, and the bird's whole body 

 is often encrusted. And that is what our splendid 

 blackbird with his golden bill, his glossy plumage, 

 and his broad tail has been brought to. A veritable 

 prisoner of Chillon ! 



In every village, any one who loves birds might 

 offer prizes to their poorer brothers and sisters who 

 keep them, for those that are in the best all round 

 condition ; and simple little rules could be printed on 



