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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



is held captive, all the affections flow out 

 spontaneously. It is Nature's law. 



As for the blackbirds on our garden lawn, 

 — even now they show themselves in all their 

 glory. The rising sun gilds their plumage, 

 and the fresh air gladdens their hearts. 

 Perched aloft, we leave them happy ; and we 

 seldom depart without a song. This is plea- 

 sant, as the year is young : — 



As yet the trembling year is unconfirm'd, 

 And Winter oft at eve resumes the breeze ; 

 Chills the pale morn, and bids his driving sleets 

 Defomi the day delightless. 



But the day is even now at our doors, 

 when Spring, with all its enchanting beauties, 

 will burst upon us. For this, and for a mild, 

 genial air, let us patiently wait. 



THE AVIARY AND ITS OCCUPANTS. 

 No. VII. 



( Continued from page ?8J 



It gives us pleasure to learn, that 

 the subject now under discussion is becoming 

 one of universal interest. The letters we are 

 daily receiving, convince us that we have 

 awakened a feeling that is not likely soon to 

 be set aside. Nature's voice is so gentle, — 

 her precepts are so loving, that a heart not 

 habitually " hard" must feel their influence. 

 But to our task : 



Our little tenants having now taken quiet 

 possession of their freehold, we will try yet 

 again to devise some additional means of 

 adding to their domestic happiness. 



In enumerating the particular tribes by 

 name.it will be seen there are some which we 

 have purposely omitted ; such as, amongst 

 others, the greenfinch, bramblefinch, hawfinch, 

 and the starling. The first of these is a 

 large ugly " gawky," with a harsh wiry voice, 

 painful to listen to. He will eat, too, thrice 

 more than he is worth in a single week. The 

 other three are maliciously spiteful, and must 

 be also among the rejected. They would 

 destroy the entire colony in an incredibly 

 short space of time, if they once gained 

 admission. 



When enumerating our reasons for ex- 

 cluding hen birds from the aviary, we left, of 

 necessity, much for conjecture. Full of 

 meaning, however, as the " hints" were, and 

 quite sufficient for the purpose, yet there are 

 others equally stringent. 



With a view to the regular increase of the 

 stock, we provided, when first " colonising," 

 a number of square mahogany nest-boxes, 

 which were fixed against the wall. Also, 

 nest-bags, and such other materials as were 

 necessary for the purpose of " building." In 

 these boxes, from time to time, a number of 



nests were formed ; eggs were laid ; and the 

 process of incubation went forward. We 

 anticipated much amusement, and much 

 delight, from the young progeny when 

 hatched ; but, alas, our anticipations of 

 pleasure were doomed never to be realised. 

 There were such " awful goings on," as we 

 shall presently relate, among the various 

 u settlers," that we were obliged, within the 

 first three months, to commit an act of 

 ejectment. The sex called " gentle," it was 

 found necessary to banish for ever ! " 'Tis 

 true, 'tis pity — pity 'tis, 'tis true !" 



Had we succeeded in establishing "a 

 peaceful colony" on so grand a scale, we 

 should have accomplished, we understand, 

 what has never yet been done. No sooner 

 were any eggs laid by a canary, or a siskin, 

 (aberdevine), than a rival hen goldfinch 

 would alight on the nest-box, seize the eggj 

 and dropping it from above, on the ground 

 beneath, listen with maniacal ecstacy to the 

 music of its destructive fall. 



The thrush, too, known universally as an 

 " imitative" bird, would oftentimes amuse 

 himself in the accomplishment of a similar 

 exploit. He was ready, at a moment's notice, 

 to " assist" any of the rival malcontents in a 

 crusade against the eggs and young. No 

 sooner were the latter born — succeed we did 

 in getting a few broods hatched — than the 

 conspirators went to work with an energy, 

 and a unity of purpose, worthy of a better 

 cause. Despite the vigorous resistance of 

 the parent-birds, " thrice armed by Nature's 

 powerful wand," then- infant offspring were 

 remorselessly dragged, " callow" as they 

 were, from their cradles ; suspended in mid- 

 air, like Mahomet's coffin ; and then, with 

 deadly hate, dashed forcibly to the ground. 

 There were a number of offenders in this 

 way. They were all tried and condemned ; 

 their sentence — banishment — being carried 

 into immediate effect. 



Canaries, alone, will pair and breed ex- 

 cellently well in an aviary ; but the admixture 

 of a number of other tribes for breeding 

 purposes, is evidently a " mistake." A little 

 calm reflection will show good reason for this, 

 seeing how very dissimilar are the taste and 

 habits of some birds compared with others — 

 these courting retirement, and feeling annoyed 

 when disturbed ; those rejoicing in mischief, 

 and never so happy as when up to their ears 

 in excitement. 



As your little friends will try every possible 

 mode of amusing themselves at your expense, 

 you must take special care to nail your floor- 

 cloth, and paste your paper, evenly on the 

 wall or ceiling. If they can only find one 

 end that they can unravel, one projection 

 that they can peck at, they will go to work 

 with such artistic skill, that they will soon 

 disfigure the room. Be careful, therefore, 



