KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



179 



kiss pretty, pretty Queen Victoria. — Pretty, 

 pretty. Queen Victoria ! come and kiss poor 

 George. — Poor George is in his cage and 

 cannot get out. — One hundred guineas for 

 poor George, cage and all, cage and all," 

 &c. &c. He will also, when he hears a 

 noise, cry out " Silence !" This, of course, 

 from having heard his master say so. 



We need hardly add that this bird — a 

 sweetly -pretty creature ! is, like the rest of 

 his tribe, possessed of certain powers, 

 largely developed by circumstances- He 

 has no knowledge of the meaning of what he 

 says ; but mechanically obeys an impulse 

 over which he has no power. 



Herein we have endeavored to show the 

 " Art of Taming and Training Animals." 

 It is a subject on which little can be said, 

 save in outline; but one that is replete with 

 interest if carefully studied. We shall, no 

 doubt, be constantly treating on something 

 connected with it ; for new discoveries are 

 being made daily. 



BIRDS OF SONG. 



No XXVII.— THE BLACK-CAP. 



We are fast travelling onwards 

 with this lovely month of September, a 

 month in which Nature's lap overflows with 

 a profusion of blessings. 



Now, if ever, is the time to be " happy." 

 The sun, at mid-day, still rejoices in the 

 majesty of his great power, the country, 

 redolent of smiles and serenity, presents us 

 with beauties inexhaustible, — but the joyous, 

 mellifluous voices to which we have been 

 wont to listen in the green fields with 

 ecstacy and delight, are still hushed. An 

 occasional twitter, indeed, falls upon our 

 ear, — but beyond that, the Autumn song of 

 the robin excepted, all is silence. Yet is 

 it delightful to court the contemplative 

 mood, and to wander abroad ; for, as John 

 Keats warbles, — 



The poetry of Earth is never dead ; 

 When all the birds are faint with the hot sun, 

 And hide in cooling trees, — a voice will run 

 From hedge to hedge about the new-mown 



mead; 

 That is the grasshopper's; he takes the lead 

 In summer luxury; he has never done 

 With his delights; for when tired out with fun, 

 He rests at ease beneath some pleasant weed. 



It is at such seasons as these, when we 

 are roaming about in a happy frame of mind 

 ourselves, that we feel inclined to ponder 

 upon the question of its being cruel, or 

 kind, to keep our little winged friends in 

 confinement. This requires much considera- 

 tion ; and we fear we are more apt to lean 

 towards our own inclination in the matter, 

 than to consult the happiness of our in- 



tended prisoners. Spenser asks, and we 

 shall be puzzled to find more than one 

 rational answer for him — 



What more felicity can fill a creature, 



Than to enjoy delight with liberty, 



And to be lord of all the works of Nature? 



To reign in the air, from earth to yon blue sky, 



To roam midst flowers, and trees of glorious 



feature ? 

 And taste whatever food doth please the eye? 



We leave, however, each one of our read- 

 ers to decide the point for themselves; and 

 as we feel sure that very many of them will 

 decide against Spenser, we shall at once 

 descend to the old common place considera- 

 tion of proper habitations, food, and treat- 

 ment for birds in confinement : and, first, a 

 fitting cage for the Black -cap. 



This little fellow being for the most part 

 of a cheerful, confiding, companionable dis- 

 position, there is no need to have his dwelling 

 made dark. Still, as he loves to be kept 

 warm and snug, both the sides of his cage 

 should be of wood, as well as the back and 

 top ; the front being of strong white tin 

 wire. The proper proportions are, — length 

 of cage, 16 inches ; height, 13 inches ; depth, 

 10 inches. The whole must be of maho- 

 gany ; and if French polished, it would be 

 all the better. The interior of the cage 

 may be arranged precisely as per instructions 

 already given for the nightingale's cage. 

 The black-cap, however, will require no 

 green silk curtain to conceal him from view ; 

 for, seated on his lower perch, his chief 

 delight is to see all that is going forward ; 

 nor is he less ambitious of exciting your 

 attention, and catching your eye. With 

 crest' erect, and neck outstretched, the 

 would-be " observed of all beholders," 



Venit,- — spectetur ut ipse ! 



He is indeed a bold, familiar fellow, -a true 

 descendant from Narcissus. 



The next luxury to provide your little 

 friend, is the bath ; of which he ought to be 

 dubbed a " Knight ! " He is inordinately 

 fond of bathing; and his plumage being 

 fine as gossamer, he loves to have every 

 thread, if we may so speak, thoroughly 

 wetted. When he retires to his cage 

 (drenched!), the bath must be immediately 

 removed ; and on no account must it be fur- 

 nished more than once daily — and then, early 

 in the morning. We have already alluded 

 to his toilet. This ceremonial is with him a 

 " grand study," and we advise you to stand 

 by and watch his movements while so occu- 

 pied. The whole scene is ridiculously amus- 

 ing; and be assured he enjoys your company 

 as much as you do the sight of his harmless 

 pleasures. 



With respect to the cleanliness necessary 

 to be observed — such as giving him con- 



