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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



should also be furnished with a stock of bird 

 glasses, tin pans, &c., so as never to be at a 

 loss, in case of sudden need. There is always 

 something occurring, to render these pro- 

 visions needful. 



So much for the building and equipment 

 of an aviary. We have been very minute, 

 very precise, very methodical ; so that we 

 may now consider all our preparations for 

 enjoyment " complete." If people will keep 

 birds — and the practice is on the increase, it 

 is a matter of stringent duty on our part to 

 point out all that will induce towards making 

 them " happy." Yet is that word a perfect 

 mockery ! If we could read the heart of a 

 bird, and enter into his feelings at this 

 season, whilst confined in a room, — we should 

 hardly persist in our cruelty to his race. 



Accustomed as we are to range the fields, 

 and almost to acquire the language (certainly 

 the feelings) of the " free " songsters as they 

 revel in delight around us) — we speak to a 

 point on this matter. Oh! that all "ad- 

 mirers of our writings on Song Birds " could 

 join us in our walks ; letting us chat to them 

 by the way as we wandered through the 

 young growing corn, in shady lanes, by 

 brooks and rivulets ; in copses, meadows, and 

 leafy woods — we would try and convince 

 them of what they are so slow to learn, so 

 unwilling to believe. Nay more; we are 

 vain enough to believe that our argument 

 would " prevail " with many — for we should 

 be away from the noise of cities ; buried in 

 Nature's lovely bosom ; and the influences of 

 the season, and its surrounding charms, could 

 not but melt the heart. Every step we took, 

 we could " illustrate " our argument — for we 

 would point to everything having life, and 

 address ourself to the very soul of each 

 listening ear. We love to reason in the 

 fields ! And why ? Simply because we al- 

 ways get our own way. Nature is such a 

 special pleader ! But we must again descend 

 to prose. 



The aviary thoroughly furnished, and your 

 little families affectionately provided for, the 

 next thing to be done is — to make yourself 

 thoroughly acquainted with the natural his- 

 tory of every bird in your possession. You 

 could not do this satisfactorily, unless you 

 had several of the same species ; for to judge 

 of all by one, would be manifestly incorrect. 

 Three of each, we think we may conscien- 

 tiously say, will suffice for your purpose ; if 

 you chance to have more, so much the better. 



You will find there are many books ex- 

 tant, which profess to treat logically of 

 " British Song Birds ;" and we recommend 

 if you feel so disposed, a perusal of the 

 whole. You will then satisfactorily convince 

 yourself, how totally insufficient they are to 

 teach you any large amount of practical 

 knowledge. They appear mere servile copies, 



one from the other. We have recently 

 alluded to Bechstein's book (a new edition 

 of which was lately published) in terms of 

 dis-praise. We do not wish to be told how 

 to trap birds, how to tease birds, how to 

 turn birds into unnatural performers, and 

 make them live a life of torment ; neither 

 to be instructed in the art of starving them 

 into tameness. Such silly books, although 

 profusely illustrated,must ever be viewed with 

 distaste by all who have hearts, and by all 

 who wish to be beloved by their pets. 

 They are much in request among servants ; 

 and we see the ill-effects produced by them 

 daily, as we pass through our west-end 

 streets. Victims of every kind are exhibited 

 in areas, or may be seen suspended from 

 attic windows — shivering in the blast, or 

 scorched by fervid heat. Our pen shall 

 never be used in defence of such practices. 

 For several years we kept a regular 

 " diary " of observations ; and we most 

 earnestly advise every possessor of an aviary 

 to do the same thing. They will feel, as we 

 have ever done, fresh sensations of delight 

 every time they refer to their note-book. 

 Truly different indeed will be their own re- 

 marks, by comparison with those they have 

 been in the habit of reading in printed 

 books ! 



You will first note the peculiarity in dis- 

 position of each separate inmate ; observing, 

 for instance, in whose company the canary 

 and goldfinches are principally found ; also 

 the linnet, chaffinch, bullfinch, &c. Certain 

 birds you will find to be of solitary, retired 

 habits ; others, gregarious ; and many, partial 

 to mixed society. Every day will unfold 

 some new and interesting discovery, and 

 bring to light some Pylades and Orestes 

 vowing eternal friendship for each other, &c. 



It is beyond all question, that social inti- 

 macies are formed in an aviary; and that they 

 are of long continuance. This remark ap- 

 plies as well to male birds, as to those which 

 live together in pairs. The most siDgular 

 instance of attachment in illustration of the 

 latter, that we can call to mind, is that of a 

 pied mule canary (a hen), associated with a 

 cock robin. The mutual affection of this 

 | out-of-the-way pair, was as strong as it was 

 remarkable. The two were never to be found 

 apart. The mule which we had originally 

 imagined to be a male bird, and purchased as 

 such, in due course laid three eggs. They 

 were artfully concealed behind a part of the 

 lining of the wall, in some dried chickweed. 

 We removed these eggs as quickly as pos- 

 sible ; and placed them under a hen canary, 

 which was just beginning to sit, in a breed- 

 ing cage. 



There being a wise and universal law in 

 nature, that no mules, males or females, 

 can reproduce their own species ; we felt 



