KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



verdure, that the miscreant's trap has failed 

 to become seen. Hence, the number of old 

 nightingales for sale this year has been 

 comparatively small. 



The song of these birds is now. about to 

 cease for the season. If therefore you have 

 neglected to make your purchases, you are 

 just too late. After June, they are not 

 worth the trouble and anxiety that must be 

 bestowed on them, if you wish them to be 

 happy. We speak, of course, about the old 

 birds. " Nestlings " are just now coming 

 into the market ; and if you are determined 

 on keeping them, you should lose no time 

 about securing a nest of young birds. Make 

 your wishes known at once to some of the 

 dealers. In this matter they cannot cheat 

 you. Out of a nest, you are likely to rear 

 one or two fine male birds. The hens, when 

 proved to be such, will of course be liberated, 

 — but not in the winter. 



" Branchers " too, will be on sale in a few 

 days, and should be caged as soon as caught. 

 You will find them, for the most part, 

 cheerful and sociable ; and so imitative, that 

 they quickly learn to unite a number of 

 other voices with their own. They possess 

 however, the charm of executing whatever 

 they attempt, to perfection ; so that this 

 variety will be pleasingly agreeable. 



Branchers and nestlings — the latter in 

 particular — never sing their own natural 

 song only ; unless indeed they be brought 

 up immediately under an old steady song 

 bird, and allowed to hear the voice of none 

 other. Here let us caution you, never to 

 forget to pay your " pets " marked attention ; 

 for nightingales are apt, if slighted, to grow 

 sulky, and refuse their regular food. This 

 they will do for very many hours. In such cases, 

 you must give way ; and win their favor by 

 presenting to them their favorite morceau. 

 This will cause them to return to their food. 

 We have seen many a bird exhibit these 

 signs of obstinacy. Indeed, we believe some 

 would literally die before being the first to 

 give in. These lovely little fellows know 

 their powers, and will be treated with becom- 

 ing respect. But if you treat them with 

 affection — what a reward will be yours ! 

 Their motto to a "friend" is, — "Je ne 

 change qu'en mourant." Faithful are they 

 to their last dying gasp. We have proved 

 it, again and again. 



Apropos of the affection of the nightin- 

 gale, where he observes a corresponding- 

 feeling on the part of his admirer. By 

 remarkably good fortune, one of the most 

 extraordinary of these songsters has recently 

 taken full possession of our garden. We 

 call the gay, joyous fellow " extraordinary," 

 for we never yet heard such seraphic strains, 

 such perfect freedom of song, from any ^ of 

 the tribe, — much as we have had to do with 



them. And what makes us value this merry 

 little rogue the more, is — his almost incredi- 

 ble tameness. He sings, the night through, 

 just under our chamber window, and seldom 

 leaves the garden, by day or by night, for 

 more than a few minutes at a time. W r e 

 usually rise to greet him at 5 a.m. ; and on 

 venturing an humble imitation of his swelling 

 note, he flies to us at once. Seating himself 

 on a shady bough, and bending slightly 

 forward, there he remains — holding converse 

 with us so long as our time permits us to 

 tarry ; and he improvises such music the 

 while, that we can hardly tear ourselves 

 away from him. He knows our voice, and 

 we know his. Thus do we, morning by 

 morning, exchange familiarities ; and greatly 

 do we love to return, after the fatigues of a 

 clay of toil, to renew our intimacy. We 

 believe the pleasure is quite mutual. We 

 cannot but imagine that this bird possesses 

 an unusual charm ; for he has drawn into 

 one focus a host of blackbirds, thrushes, 

 robins, black-caps, and other vocalists, whose 

 orchestral accompaniments, blending with 

 his own heavenly voice, almost lead us to 

 suppose we are in fairy land. They rehearse 

 early in the evening ; and the concert once 

 commenced lasts until long after sunrise. 

 Perhaps, this has been one of the finest, 

 though the shortest nightingale seasons ever 

 known.* Nor do we remember ever before 

 to have observed so much " interest " shown 

 towards this bird of Paradise. It cannot be 

 his beauty that has worked this charm? 

 Most assuredly not. It may be, that our 

 good word has had something to do in the 

 matter. Let us hope so. 



The nightingale so far from being hand- 

 some, is of a remarkably common presence ; 

 yet has he " within, that which passeth 

 show." No person, to look at him, would 

 set any value upon him. This bears out 

 our old favorite saying, — that Nature seldom 

 gives rare excellences and a handsome person 

 united. Look at the beautiful plumage of 

 many of the American and other foreign 

 birds — yet have they no voice. Exquisite 

 in form, of faultless symmetrical proportions 

 — yet not one particle of music, or of vocal 

 melody, is there among the entire tribe ! 

 Here again we find practical instruction ; 

 and learn how vain is beauty without mind. 



We never see any of these gaudy automata 

 without a feeling of pity. They were never 

 intended by Nature to visit our country; 

 nor were they ever intended to be immured 



* We speak more particularly as regards our own 

 neighborhood, and parts adjacent. Hammersmith, 

 Chiswick, Kew, and Richmond, have been most higbly 

 favored this year. We have heard Philomel's lovely 

 voice in all these localities. Never sang he more joyously, 

 never did he show more contempt for his prowling 

 enemies ! Safely concealed among the luxuriant foliage, 

 he has sung defiance to all his foes ; and he is now " safe." 



