KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



283 



quite confident in our own mind of what 

 must be the necessary result with regard 

 to the hatching of the eggs. There was, 

 of course, no embryon — consequently, no off- 

 spring. We merely experimented in this 

 one extraordinary instance, to satisfy some 

 amateurs who were morbidly sanguine of 

 a contrary issue. 



It is worthy of notice, that immediately 

 on the removal of the eggs from their 

 hiding-place, both the robin and the mule 

 grew melancholy. Their affection was, if 

 possible, redoubled ; but, sick at heart at 

 the frustration of their fondest hopes, they 

 pined gradually away, and found a resting- 

 place in the silent grave. " In their deaths 

 they were not divided." We placed them 

 in a small deal box, and buried them be- 

 neath the same tomb. 



When you have carefully studied the dis- 

 positions and habits of the hard-billed birds, 

 you will find that in the soft-billed you have 

 yet more to admire. These little creatures, 

 more particularly those known as the 

 " Warblers," have all of them a soft, silky, 

 plumage ; and are, in point of substance, 

 " light as air." Hence their sleekness, trim- 

 ness, and fair symmetrical proportions. The 

 time to view them in their glory is in the 

 morning, while feeding ; or when the sun 

 streams into the aviary, through the win- 

 dows. They may then be seen basking in 

 the sun's rays, ranged on one of the long 

 perches in the front window; or lying 

 stretched out at full length on the margin of 

 the rippling fountain. 



The " Warblers " are also remarkably fond 

 of sitting opposite the looking-glasses ; be- 

 fore which they habitually make their toilet, 

 and perform some excruciatingly-droll antics 

 If ever birds may be said to " think," it is 

 at such seasons as these. It is long before 

 they can bring themselves to believe that the 

 reflection of their own person is not in reality 

 another bird. Many are the assaults com- 

 mitted on the face of the glass in conse- 

 quence ! 



To get these little rogues, one and all, to 

 be your associates, you need only provide 

 yourself with any of the luxuries in which 

 they delight — such as a few wood-lice, ants, 

 spiders, mealworms, or earwigs. Your ad- 

 vent will then be heralded with a rapturous 

 song. One or two of these savory morgeaux, 

 kindly presented with the hand, will get rid 

 of all mauvaise horde on their part, and cause 

 you to be " A 1 " in the estimation of the 

 colony. 



We here close our ''Treatise on the 

 Aviary and its Occupants." It has afforded 

 us infinite delight to receive, during its pro- 

 gress towards completion, testimonials of 

 approval from very high quarters. The 

 spirit of our observations has been appre- 



ciated ; our motives have been pleasingly re- 

 cognised ; and our labor of love for the wel- 

 fare of the feathered tribe has, we are assured, 

 not been in vain. 



BIRDS OF SONG. 



THE THRUSH. 



{Continued from Page 218.) 



The country has now been so long 

 rejoicing in the notes of this happy fellow, 

 that we find him an especial favorite, go 

 where we may. From the earliest dawn 

 until long after sun-set, is he everywhere 

 making himself heard and beloved : — 



The thrush's song 

 Is varied as his plumes ; and as his plumes 

 Bend beauteous, each with each, so run his notes 

 Smoothly, with many a happy rise and fall. 

 How prettily upon his parded breast, 

 The vividly- contrasting tints unite 

 To please the admiring eye ! So — loud and soft, 

 And high and low, all in his notes combine 

 In alternation sweet, to charm the ear. 



There seems to be a mutual understanding 

 between this bird and man, that he (the 

 thrush) has a prescriptive right to take up 

 his quarters just where he pleases. He 

 seems intuitively to know that he is always 

 a welcome visitor ; and this knowledge it is 

 that makes him so loud and so free in his 

 song. He looks upon your garden as his 

 own ; your trees as his property ; and your 

 fruit as being provided for the refreshment 

 and entertainment of his family. We 

 assume all this, from the bold manner in 

 which he takes possession of his territories. 



In our last, we dwelt much upon the admi- 

 rable construction of the thrush's nest, and 

 made particular mention of the progressive 

 architecture of the builder. We should 

 have remarked, that the rounded form of 

 this frame-work is produced by the bird 

 measuring it, at every step of the process, 

 with its body ; particularly with the part ex- 

 tending from the thigh to the chin. It is 

 this uniform course of action in all the tribe 

 that causes us to make the discrimination 

 between "instinct" and "reason." If we 

 found an exception to a rule, facts would be 

 against us ; but it is not so. 



The thrush lays four, sometimes five eggs. 

 They are of a blue cast, spotted with black 

 at the larger end. The nest is built in a Fir 

 or Holly ; sometimes on the stump of a tree ; 

 and very frequently near the ground. It is 

 easily discoverable, and therefore often be- 

 comes the property of the highway robber. 

 The heads of these diabolical vagrants are a 

 study worthy of the phrenologists. The 

 savages would appear to have but one organ 

 in their whole system — we hardly need say 

 that we mean the organ of " Destructive 



