CHAPTER OF VARIETIES. 



151 



which hold putrid Vegetable matter in suspension afford some of them, 

 I think we may conclude that water is their native element, and putrid 

 vegetable matter first their nidus, where they are hatched ; and, perhaps, 

 their first pabulum or food on their exclusion from the egg-. I do not 

 say their constant food, since the oxy-hydrogen microscope clearly 

 shows that they are cannibals, and devour each other. 



If, then, we consider the eggs to have been laid in the water, (though 

 too small even for the most powerful glasses to detect) and only to 

 require a proper nidus, pabulum, and temperature, to bring- them to 

 life, we have in the infusion in question all the conditions required — viz., 

 gluten, gelatine, and magma, as nidus and pabulum, and the heat 

 generated by the process of putrefactive fermentation ; added to which 

 we have the temperature of the atmosphere in the summer season, when 

 they are most abundant. 



With these few remarks I shall close this tedious dissertation, which, 

 I trust, will throw some light on the object of " Tyro's" inquiries, and 

 induce some of your more learned correspondents to pursue this highly 

 interesting subject. 



Islington. 



CHAPTER OF VARIETIES. 



Account of a canary. — In the Christmas of 1831 I procured a 

 fine canary bird (Fring. canaria, Linn.) For a considerable time I 

 expected him to break out in the bold strains of his species, but still 

 he was mute. At first I attributed it to his removal ; to his being 

 in a strange place. The spring advanced and summer came, and all 

 the foreign warblers graced our plains and cheered our groves ; the only 

 note he would occasionally give was a simple tweet tweet, for silence 

 was with him the order of the day. When autumn approached I pro- 

 cured a very active and lively goldfinch (Fringilla cardualis, Linn.), 

 with excellent action and song, with the hope of eliciting something 

 from this taciturn being ; this had no effect. Moulting time came ; 

 that was an excuse for him, and continued long. I did not know what 

 to think of him ; sometimes I thought it must be a hen ; at other times 

 I thought it must be diseased or weak — then a weak bird he was con- 

 sidered. In the following March I procured another of good character, 

 which was soon proved ; for the second day he broke out in full song, 

 as if he had been long accustomed to the house ; unintimidated he 



