"hoppers" is a projecting rail, on which the birds sit while eating; and, underneath, four round holes, through which they put their heads to get their seed. As the latter is being cracked, and eaten, the hull falls to the ground, and a fresh supply descends from above-the apparatus itself being self-supplying.

Four of these "hoppers" should be suspended on the wall, between and on each side of the looking-glasses. They should be regularly emptied and cleaned out twice every month, as a quantity of dust, &c., is apt to collect in them, thereby spoiling the food. If kept half filled only, this will prevent waste. They are procurable, we should add, of almost any London dealer in birds.

The pans for the food of the soft-billed birds, must be kept always on the ground. We should advise their being made of glass, or china, and of a square form.

The floor of the room should be cleansed daily; and always kept well supplied with small and pebbly gravel (well dried), and old

mortar well bruised.

EXTRACTS FROM OUR NOTE-BOOK.

THE FIRST FEELING OF WINTER.

How delightfully the first feeling of winter comes on the mind! What a throng of tranquillising and affectionate thoughts accompany its first bright fires, and the sound out of doors of its first chilling winds! Oh, when the leaves are driven in troops through the streets at nightfall, and the figures of the passers-by hurry on, cloaked and stooping with the cold, is there a pleasanter feeling in the world than to enter the closed and carpetted room, with its shaded lamps and its genial warmth and its cheerful faces about the evening table? I hope that I speak your own sentiments, dear reader, when I prefer to every place and time in the whole calendar of our pleasure, a winter evening at home-the 'sweet sweet home' of childhood, with its unreserved love, and its unchanged and unmeasured endearments. We need not love gaiety the less. The light and music and beauty of the dance, will always breed a floating delight in the brain that has grown dull to life's finer influences; yet the pleasures of home, though serener, are deeper, and I am sure that the world may be searched over in vain for a sense of joy so even and unmingled.

It is a beautiful trait of Providence, that the balance is kept so truly between our many and different blessings. It were a melancholy thing

to

see the summer depart with its superb beauty, if the heart did not freshen as it turned in from its decay to brood upon its own treasures. The affections wander under the enticement of all the outward loveliness of nature; and it is necessary to unwind the spell, that their rich kindness may not become scattered and visionary. I have a passion for these simple theories which I trust will be forgiven. I indulge in them as people pun. They are too

shadowy for logic, it is true-like the wings of the Glendoveer in Kehama, gauze-like and You may not filmy,, but flying high withal. grow learned, but you surely will grow poetiI would as soon be praised cal upon them. by a blockhead, as be asked-the reason!

A SPRING DAY IN WINTER.

A SPRING day sometimes bursts upon us in December. One scarcely knows whether the constant warmth of the fire, or the fresh sunny breathings from the open window, are the most lazily to the mild wind as it enters; the light welcome. At such a time, the curtains swing

erect themselves with an out-of-door vigor; and green leaves of the sheltered flowers stir and the shuffled steps and continued voices of the children in the street, have the loitering and summer-like sound of June. I do not know whether it is not a cockney feeling, but with all my love for the country, fixed as it is by the recollections of a life mostly spent in the " 'green fields" I sometimes" babble of," there is something in a summer morning in the city, which the wet, warm woods, and the solitary, though lonely, haunts of the country, do not, after all the poetry that has been 'spilt upon them' (as Neale would say), at all equal. Whether it is that we find so much sympathy in the many faces that we meet, made happy ey the same sweet influences, or whatever else may be the reason,-certes, Í never take my morning walk on such a day without a leaping in my heart, which from all I can gather by dream or revelation, has a touch in it of Paradise.

I returned once on a day, from an hour's ramble after breakfast. The air rushed past my temples with the grateful softness of spring, and every face that passed had the open, inhaling expression which is given by the simple joy of existence. The sky had the deep clearness of noon. The clouds were winnowed in light parallel curves, looking like white shells inlaid on the arched heavens. The smooth, glassy bay was like a transparent abyss opening to the earth's centre; and edging away underneath, with a slope of hills and spires and leafless woods, copied minutely and perfectly from the upper landscape; and the naked elms seemed almost clothed as the teeming eye looked on them; and the brown hills took a tint of green-so freshly did the summer fancies crowd into the brain with the summer softness of the sunshine and air!

The mood is rare in which the sight of human faces does not give us pleasure. It is a curious occupation to look on them as they pass, and study their look and meaning, and wonder at the providence of God, which can provide in this crowded world an object and an interest for all. With what a singular harmony the great machine of society goes on! So many thousand minds, and each with its peculiar cast and positive difference from its fellow, and yet no dangerous interference, and no discord audible above the hum of its daily revolution! I could not help feeling a religious thrill as I passed face after face, with this thought in my mind; and saw each one earnest and cheerful, each one pressing on with its

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are proud of themselves and of their persons; reflect on this for a moment, and our memory and they care for nothing beyond.* Let us 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

THE INTEREST ATTACHED TO THE BREEDING OF FANCY CANARIES, is considerably on the increase.

We have, within the last few weeks, received 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 GORDON, 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 wrong. 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

Hitherto, "the fancy" have directed all their energies to the personnel of their birds. Let us, however, encourage them to persevere; 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.† 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 gloomy. 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 white, 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 proceedings of the various clubs, whether in town or country; and will gladly publish any communications 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 brilliant their plumage! Yet have they no song. This is an invariable law.-ED. K. J.

† At the "Plough Tavern," Museum Street.

It is a crotchet of ours, that people who "love" birds and dumb animals cannot be unworthy members of society. Hence our wish to promote their best interests.

WE HAVE MORE THAN ONCE REMARKED, that there is a vast deal of "the savage' amongst us; lurking under the garb of humanity. We have proved it too,—many times.

We naturally look for brutal feelings amongst the low and uneducated. Hardly can they tell what is right and what is wrong; so few are the opportunities afforded them of being benefited by any society superior to their own. A drover becomes hardened by habit. He deals out savage blows, right and left, upon the cattle committed to his charge, without a thought. Perhaps, from his very cradle, he has been permitted to be cruel; and exercised that cruelty upon even his own father and mother. Here is a case calling for "pity." To a certain extent, these poor wretches cannot help what they do. Still they must be punished; and taught, by the mighty arm of the law, what should have been taught them by their parents in their infancy. These matters are what we seek to reform. It is a hard task, we grant; but if we only assist, in the slightest degree, we shall be

satisfied.

did not know. My mistress and “a gentleman," a friend of my master's, were in the kitchen at the time. Being frightened, I went out; and stood upon the stairs. In three or four minutes, I heard the poor cat cry out in a dreadful manner. When I came down, I saw it hanging in front of the kitchen fire; the same as if a joint was being roasted. It smoked as it went round, and screamed and cried shockingly.

Mr. Broughton: Where were your mistress and "the gentleman," at this time? "The

Witness: Close to the kitchen door. gentleman" told my master, it was too bad of him to serve a cat like that; when he remarked that he would teach it ingratitude. After the cat had struggled as long as it could, it ceased to cry, and appeared convulsed. My master said it was dead, and "the gentleman" said, “It's astonishing how long these cats retain life!" Master was going to cut it down, but mistress said, "DON'T DO THAT, for it MAY GO MAD, and run ALL OVER THE PLACE." Master then said, "OH, NO; it's NOT DEAD." With a wooden roller which he took from behind the door, he gave the cat two or three blows upon the head, as it was hanging. The poor thing opened its mouth; and directly afterwards I was convinced that it was dead. Its struggles had been so strong, as to bend the hook it was hanging on. My master took it down, and, having put it into an apron, I, at his desire, threw it away into the road. My master, and "the gentleman," then went up stairs-to take some brandy and water and cigars.

Defendant, in answer to the charge, said that he had lately kept some Cochin-China fowls, and that the network, which he had been at much expense in putting up, was continually being damaged; and as this cat, by which a number of others were attracted to his premises, was a source of great annoyance, he determined upon getting rid of her. He had no intention of acting with any degree of cruelty. He was quite incapable of a cruel action, and would, if his worship would allow him a little time, bring "the gentleman" who was with him, as a witness.

Mr. Broughton told him that he had had ample opportunity allowed him for doing so.

Mr. Thomas said, the gentleman was THE SON of MR. PHILLIPS, the auctioneer, of Bond Street.*

Mr. Broughton said, I am bound to express my "astonishment" at a lady being present during these shocking proceedings. As the law now stands-and it is a happy thing that it is so-a man can no more roast his cat with impunity, than he can his child.

Defendant; I hope, sir, that if you cannot look favorably upon me, you will inflict on me a fine.

Mr. Broughton gave him to understand that, TO A MAN IN HIS SITUATION OF LIFE, A FINE WOULD BE NO PUNISHMENT AT ALL, AND HE SHOULD THEREFORE SEND HIM AT ONCE TO THE HOUSE OF CORRECTION FOR ONE MONTH.

The gentleman and lady amateurs who took part in the above act of barbarity, can

* Mr. Phillips has denied the fact of the wretched offender being "his son," but does not say in what other degree of relationship he stands towards him.-ED. K. J.