THE UNIVERSAL FAMILY PAPER FOR INTER-COMMUNICATIONS ON 



Conducted by WILLIAM KIDD, of Hammersmith,— 



Author of the Familiar and Popular Essays on "Natural History;" "British Song 

 Birds;" " Birds of Passage ; " "Instinct and Reason;" "The Aviary," &c. 



"the OBJECT op our work is to make men WISER, without obliging them to turn over folios and 



QUARTOS.— TO FURNISH MATTKR FOR THINKING AS WELL AS READING."— EVELYN. 



No. 44.— 1852. 



SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30. 



Price 3d 



Or, in Monthly Parts, Price 1*. Id. 



NOTES ON BIRDS,— 



The Siskin,— Bullfinch, —Nightingale,— Thrush, 

 — Robin. 



BY A LOVER OF NATURE. 



Dear Mr. Editor, — The great interest 

 you take in all matters connected with natural 

 history, induces me to give you the result of 

 my experience in a small way, with birds of 

 which I was always fond — both wild and 

 tame. 



First let me speak of the Siskin, or Aber- 

 devine. Of this little bird, you have not yet 

 spoken at any length. This I think you 

 ought to have done ; for he is a noble little 

 fellow, and deserves a long chapter to him- 

 self. I have had several of them, and have 

 always found much pleasure in their com- 

 pany. They were cheerfulness itself, also 

 very bold and familiar. No birds are more 

 readily tamed, and none can give less trouble. 

 They are strong and healthy, and sing their 

 little merry, chattering song, from morning 

 till night. A truly happy life is theirs. I 

 once had a pair of these birds, which lived 

 many years ; however I did not succeed in 

 getting them to breed. 



A few years since, when at Dresden, I 

 purchased half-a-dozen siskins for two shil- 

 lings. Of these, three died on the following 

 day, from over eating. They had previously 

 been well-nigh starved. The others thrived 

 famously. I gave one of them to a friend ; 

 the other two quickly made themselves free 

 of the family, and several months afterwards 

 accompanied me to England. They were 

 assigned a place in front of the britzka ; and 

 as if conscious of their importance, they sang 

 vigorously all day long. Not a little pleased 

 were the drivers to listen to their song ; and 

 they rewarded them with a head of dande- 

 lion, or some equally choice morceau that 

 grew by the roadside. On my return home, 

 I caged one of them, and kept him as a pet ; 

 the other was turned into the aviary with 

 the canaries. They both lived for a number 



~\OL. II, 



of years. In London, I find these birds are 

 expensive.* Abroad, they may be bought by 

 the dozen at Id. or 2d. each. 



Now let me say a kind word for the Bull- 

 finch. Talking of attachments, what can 

 equal the attachment of one of those sweet 

 little creatures to his master or mistress? 

 One that lived with me a number of years, 

 always had its liberty during spring and 

 summer. It would follow me all about the 

 house ; and in the morning, perched upon 

 my pillow, it would guard me with the 

 fondest affection — flying at, fighting, and 

 scolding any one who ventured into my 

 apartment. My little champion was a 

 bachelor. Wishing to please him, I pro- 

 cured him a mate : but thinking me perhaps 

 over-officious, he declined making himself 

 agreeable, and the match never came off. I 

 must confess his principles were very 

 orthodox, and very proper. It is not right, 

 as a general rule, to interfere in matters of 

 this kind ; and when we lay any such " plans," 

 we can hardly wonder if they fail of their 

 intended aim. This by the way. Certain it 

 is that he preferred a life of celibacy, and 

 was happiest by himself. Yet was the 

 partner 1 had assigned him a charming little 

 creature, and very tame. Pier temper, too, 

 was excellent, and her disposition most 

 amiable. In no way offended at the slight 

 put upon her, she listened to the bachelor's 

 song, and learned it perfectly. The only dif- 

 ference was, that she sang his note in a softer 

 tone. I ought to have given him a " choice." 



Now for the Nightingale. You have sung 

 the praises of this King of birds at such 

 length, that I need not enlarge much here 

 upon his merits. The finest songster I ever 

 had, lived with me happily for three years. 

 He was quite tame, and 1 used to let him 

 fly about the rooms in the summer, to regale 

 himself on flies and other luxuries. He was 

 a pet ; and like most pets, he disappeared 



* They are sold here at from 2s.6d. to 6s. each. 

 _Ed. K. J. 



