376 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



NOTICE. 



All the numbers of this Journal are in print ; and 

 may be had from No. I. inclusive, price 3d. each. Also, 

 Parts I. to XI., price Is. Id. each; post-free, Is. 4d. 



As due notice was given to our Subscribers, early in 

 .Tune last, to complete their Sets -without delay, it is 

 hoped they have done so, as the Stock is now made up 

 into Sets, and very few "odd" numbers are on hand. 

 The price of the first two Quarterly, and the first Half- 

 yearly Volumes, will remain as before— until December 

 26th. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Phrenology for the Million will be continued in 

 our next. 



Communications Received. — Bombyx Atlas. — P.G. — 

 Thomas Rivers. Many thanks. — Verax— Walter Teb- 

 bitt. Next week — W. Spencer — W. II., Boston. Thanks. 

 Chirurga— M. A. R.— R. J. M. 



To Correspondents. — As we always print one number 

 of the Journal in advance, such of our Correspondents 

 as may not receive replies to their questions in the cur- 

 rent number, must bear in mind that they are not for- 

 gotten. We pay marked attention to all favors. 



KIDD'S OWN JOUENAL. 

 Saturday, December 11, 1852. 



THE INTEREST ATTACHED TO THE BREED ■ 



ing OF fancy canaries, is considerably on 

 the increase. 



We have, within the last few weeks, re- 

 ceived communications from all parts of the 

 country, requesting us to assist in promoting 

 the practice, and urging us to publish from 

 time to time the proceedings of the various 

 Canary Shows. We shall be very happy to 

 do so ; we will aid the amateur to the best 

 of our power. 



Hitherto the practice has been, to breed 

 Birds for form and color only. " Song " has 

 been considered of little moment. One very 

 extensive breeder, however, Malcolm Gor- 

 don, Esq., tells us that he hopes soon to 

 produce canaries, not only first-rate in the 

 general requirements of color and carriage, 

 but equal in song to any of the German. He 

 assures us it can be done ; and from some 

 interesting conversation we have held with 

 him, we feel sure he is just the very man to 

 carry this desideratum into effect. His heart 

 and soul are interested in the result ; and 

 therein are more than the elements of success. 



We have ever insisted on the fact of these 

 high-bred birds being extremely delicate, and 

 susceptible to cold ; also of the food given 

 them rendering them anything but hardy. 

 We have stated as much to the breeders ; 

 but they tell us we are Avrong. This remains 

 to be proved. 



We have also given it as our opinion, that 

 Nature very rarely, if ever, endows beautiful 

 birds with an excellence of song. It is with 

 the feathered tribe as with ourselves. Fine 

 men, and fine women — properly so called, are 

 almost universally destitute of mind. They 



are proud of themselves and of their persons ; 

 and they care for nothing beyond.* Let us 

 reflect on this for a moment, and our memory 

 will enable us to ratify the fact. We have 

 our eye now on various parties, who more 

 than confirm us in the justice of our remarks. 

 The looking-glass is their best — their only 

 " friend." 



Hitherto, " the fancy " have directed all 

 their energies to the personnel of their birds. 

 Let us, however, encourage them to perse- 

 vere ; and try what can be done to unite 

 harmony of voice with elegance of figure. 

 No person will rejoice more than ourself, to 

 acknowledge that we err in judgment ; and 

 let us hope that both may be realised. 



The great fault with most amateurs is, the 

 habit they have got into of breeding from 

 birds too near of kin. The stock should be 

 more varied — the mates more widely selected. 

 The stock would then be healthier, and less 

 liable to wear itself out. Much judgment 

 should be used in this matter. 



The " Hand- in-hand Canary Club" held 

 one of their shows on the 22nd of November.f 

 Among the birds introduced, we noticed 

 some very beautiful little creatures ; both 

 with regard to form and color. Mr. Malcolm 

 Gordon, of whom we have already spoken, 

 belongs to this society ; and we had a nice 

 opportunity of noticing the extreme beauty 

 of some of the birds he has reared this 

 season. They were the subjects of general 

 remark. Mr. Hopkinson, too, deservedly 

 gained several prizes. The day of exhibition 

 was against the Show. It was dark, wet, and 

 gloorry. However a practised eye could 

 easily recognise and appreciate the leading 

 features of the exhibition. We conclude our 

 readers understand the nature of these fancy 

 birds — their tails and flights must be black, 

 and the remainder of their body of the 

 richest gold. No foul feathers are admitted. 

 It is impossible for any bird to be exhibited 

 more than once. Nature prevents this ; for 

 when they moult, the black feathers become 

 ivhite, and remain so. However, all young 

 birds, proceeding from this stock, possess in 

 their infancy the characteristics of their 

 parents — losing their primitive colors when 

 (in their turn) they undergo their annual 

 moult. 



We shall be happy to report any pro- 

 ceedings of the various clubs, whether in town 

 or country ; and will gladly publish any com- 

 munications that may assist in the more 

 general cultivation of so harmless and so 

 pleasing an amusement. 



* Look at the American, and other Foreign 

 birds. How exquisite their form— and how bril- 

 liant their plumage! Yet have they no song. This 

 is an invariable law. — Ed. K. J. 



f At the " Plough Tavern," Museum Street. 



