SWEET SINGING BIRDS,"
Bird Seller
Bird Seller
said Caroline. "What is the name of that large bird, papa? He will not hurt us, will he? I think he looks angry." "No, my darling! he will not hurt you," replied her father; "it is a blue Macaw, a larger species of Parrot. Like all foreign birds the plumage is more vividand brilliant than ours, but we have the advantage in song. The Humming-bird is the smallest bird in the world, being little more than three inches. The male is green and gold on the upper part, with a changeable copper gloss; the under parts are grey. The throat and fore part of the neck are a ruby colour, in some lights as bright as fire. When viewed sideways, the feathers appear mixed with gold, and beneath of a dull garnet colour. This beautiful little bird is as admirable for its vast swiftness in the air, and its manner of feeding, as for the elegance and brilliancy of its colours. Lightning is scarcely more transient than its flight, nor the glare more vivid than its colours. It never feeds but on thewing, suspended over the flower from which it extracts its nourishment. If they find that any of their brethren have been before them, they will, in a rage, if possible, pluck it off and throw it on the ground, and sometimes even tear it to pieces.
"Beautiful as is the plumage of the foreign birds, I give the preference to our own. Who that ever heard the exquisite note of the plain brown Nightingale would regret its want of brilliant plumage? What can equal the melodious tones of the Robin, the mellow note of the Linnet, the sweet call of the Blackbird, and numerous others whose daily song seems to arise in grateful thankfulness to the throne of the Creator. Wehave some birds, however, which may almost vie with the beautiful plumage of the foreign species. The Goldfinch, King's Fisher, Bullfinch, and various others, many of which you have seen at your grandpapa's. The Pigeon and Dove, the Peacock and Pheasant are extremely beautiful. Indeed, nothing in my opinion can equal the splendour of the Peacock."
"From nature we will once more turn to art," said Mrs. Durnford, "surely nothing of foreign manufacture can exceed the elegance and design of that