
KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 

289 

BRITISH SONG-BIRDS5,— 
ACCLIMATED IN 
THE UNITED STATES, NEW YORK. 

Is there a brilliant fondling of the cage, 
Though fed with dainties from the snow-white hand 
Of a kind mistress, fairest of the land, 
But gladly would escape? And, if need were, 
Scatter the colors from the plumes that bear 
The emancipated captive through blithe air, 
Into. strange woods, where heat large may live ; 
On best or worst which rHry and Nature give? 
WorDSWORTH. 

EALOUS ARE WE—ZEALOUS 
ALREADY ARE MANY OTHERS, 
to carry into distant lands the 
music that makes Old England 
so truly happy. Take away 
the melody of our feathered 
songsters, which adds so much 
delight to our walks, strolls, 
and wanderings, and what would the country 
be? It would be like a well-spread repast, — 
wanting only the guests to partake of it. A 
pretty picture,—inanimate. ‘There would be 
no life—no joy—no companionship. 
The stillness of nature, so lovely by night, 
requires the contrast we allude to by day. 
We see our little friends happy as we walk 
along. We hear their songs of praise as they 
flit before us. We follow them, till out of 
sight, as they wing their way to Heaven's 
gate; and await their return with “a new 
song.”’ Are we not repaid for our patience ? 
Was any melody ever equal to that of our 
“herald of the morn?” What an anthem 
rolls over our head, as we quit the pillow to 
greet the God of day! Take away our birds, 
—and our hearts would be indeed sad ! 
The paper we inserted last month, on the 
subject of Acclimating our British Birds of 
Song in the United States, has excited, as we 
imagined it would do,very great attention. The 
Liverpool, Manchester, and other papers, 
have kindly given it a currency which will 
keep the subject alive,—we hope, forever. It 
is not a private, but a public question; for 
the two countries are now so closely united 
that they have, to a great extent, become 
part and parcel of each other. 
The women of America—-God bless them ! 
are, by their sound wholesome writings, 
working quite a reformation amongst us. 
We rejoice to see their sentiments so liberally 
copied into our public prints. They cannot 
fail of having their due effect in time ; for there 
is something in innocent simplicity very at- 
tractive—albeit FASHION, with her iron heels, 
does trample virtue so remorselessly under 
foot. Jine upon line,—precept upon precept, 
is the old system of education ; but it is good 
to the last :— 
Gutta cavat lapidem—non vi sed sepe cadendo. 
The stone is worn away,—not by force, but 
by the constant dripping of falling water. 

Vou. IV.—i9. 


Well, then; we “owe” the United States 
something. Their women shall have the 
praise ; and also, if we can accomplish it, 
they shall have the gladdening, cheerful 
voices of our birds, to do them homage. We 
can imagine they will be well satisfied by 
such compensation; for they are tender- 
hearted, sensible, refined, modest, domestic ; 
devoted to works of charity, and labors of 
love. Ostentation and pride, which disfigure 
all the doings of owr countrywomen, in them 
find little place. Hence the power with which 
they write, and the influence produced by 
their honest argument. Having thus proved 
that we are called upon to make some return 
for favors received, let it be in the form of 
“ thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.” 
Our Correspondent, T.S. W., (ante p. 213) 
has given us a very interesting account of his 
Jirst experiment with the birds he took out 
from England in 1852 ; and we have reason to 
believe that most of them are alive and doing 
well. But as yet, the numbers of each 
which have been exported have been ridi- 
culously few. A rigorous winter, vermin, 
sickness, or other causes, might speedily 
reduce their ranks; and interfere with the 
propagation of their various races. Suffice 
it, that the first experiment has been satisfac- 
tory; and that public excitement to prosecute 
the matter vigorously has become greater 
than ever. 
Fortunately, everybody can assist in the 
matter, who is about to visit New York— 
provided only they love to do a common act 
of pleasing duty. On their arrival, they will 
find open arms ready to receive them. 
“The Brooklyn Natural History Society” 
at New York, will at once relieve them of 
further trouble ; and see to the welfare of 
all their feathered visitors the instant they 
are landed. This is the grandest point of 
‘all,—cordial co-operation. 
We do not at all wonderat the anxiety shown 
to have our British birds associated with 
the native birds of America. These latter 
have singularly fine plumages, but no song. 
Hence are they valued for the former only. 
It is curious to note the furore prevailing in 
England for these useless birds. They are 
never happy here; but being “ foreign,” 
they have an ideal value. Doomed to ‘lead 
a life of torture, they linger a few years 
with us, and fairly die of grief. We never 
could conscientiously keep these birds under 
our roof; for we love to see everything of 
ours happy. 
Now, with regard to the further quantities 
of British Song-birds to be taken out—we 
invite the aid of al/ lovers of natural history 
about to proceed to New York. A few pairs 
of skylarks, blackbirds, thrushes, goldfinches, 
&c., will occupy little space, if put into long 
store-cages prepared for the purpose; and 
U 
