

Birds. 765 



even an English vocalist was honoured hy having his name conferred upon some of 

 the soft and melodious little favourites ; hence, the name given to little Charley after 

 the talented son of the veteran and not-to-be- forgotten Braham, and that of Jo- 

 sephine, after his daughter, for the hen hirds of the canary sing very sweetly, though 

 not with the full tone and power of the male birds. Charley and Josephine had lived 

 together in kindness and friendship two summers, and though separated from their 

 parents, were kept in another cage in the same room, and fed and treated in every way 

 alike. Nothing had hitherto befallen them, but day after day passed away in content 

 and cheerful appreciation of their mistress' uniform kindness. Her voice, as they well 

 knew, bespoke endearment to them as well as to aught else around her, and her en- 

 trance into the room in which they lived was always a signal to express their gratitude 

 and thanks for the kindness shown to them ; and this they seldom or never failed to 

 do, according " to the fashion of their ways," and well might it afford a useful exam- 

 ple to many a thoughtless mind, who receives a benefit, but too soon forgets the giver 

 of it ; indeed, the habits of birds and animals, to an observant mind, are full of useful 

 instruction for kindnesses conferred, which might put to shame the so-called nobler 

 animal — man. Singing and chirping merrily all day long seemed the only occupa- 

 tion of Charley and Josephine; but on the 10th of October, after being apparently 

 in excellent health till the close of day, these two little revellers in harmony, whose 

 glad song caused cheerfulness to all around them, and drove from the care-worn mind 

 its gloomy sorrow, bidding it seek for joy from Him who gave to them their " merry 

 note," suddenly both died, within a few minutes of each other ; as if the last song of 

 praise and thankfulness of poor little Charley was meant also to serve as the requiem 

 for Josephine, his dead companion, and without whom he could not longer live a 

 mourner, apt lesson of fondness and affection for human beings to study towards each 

 other. The approaching death of these little birds appeared as follows : about the 

 time they were generally put by to roost for the night, Josephine showed symptoms of 

 cold and chill, ruffling up her feathers, and breathing quickly and heavily ; she was 

 then placed by the fire in a separate cage, Charley showing similar symptoms, but not 

 to quite the same extent. After a time it was evident little Josephine was getting 

 worse, and not more than a couple of hours elapsed from her first attack before she was 

 heard to fall off her perch, and on being taken out of the cage, her feet were very cold, 

 her feathers distended, and herself shivering all over. The feet were then put in warm 

 water, and after being well lapped up in flannel, she was placed at the bottom of the 

 cage near the fire, where inwardly struggling for life for a short time longer, she died, 

 silently and without a further movement of any kind. On approaching the other bird, 

 he too was found dead at the bottom of his cage. Born together — living together — 

 they thus died together, and by their kind mistress' directions, who had so long nur- 

 tured and tended them, they were also buried together. — W. H. S.; Hatton Hall, 

 Salop, October 15. 



Note on the occurrence of the Hoopoe in Kent. The Hoopoe ( Upupa Epops) can 

 scarcely be called an uncommon bird now in some parts of England, As Mr. Bartlett 

 says, it generally visits the east of Kent annually. Several have been seen at Ripple 

 Court, and one was shot, and is now possessed by the family there. I know another 

 instance of the occurrence of this bird farther north, viz. at Whitmore, near New- 

 castle, in Staffordshire, where two were seen together from twelve to fourteen years 

 ago. One of them was shot, and is in the possession of my brother. — Edward H. M. 

 Sladen; Warnford, near Bishop's Waltham. 



