Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-01-28
Song Birds.


ear tickled with sweet sounds subject OF refec-
ton. The amount is very considerable. But
we only reckoned the opera, the concerts, ana
the hand organs The song birds, except what
one gets for nothing in the parks-not the less
delicious because it is gratuitous, however,
never occurred to our mind, nor the equally
gratuitous and frequently delightful parlor music
neither. But it now appears, by curious statist
| in the Tribune, that that city actually imports
from Europe annually thirty-swo thousand dol
lars worth of song birds, in addition to those OF
African and South American origin OF nearly
eight thousand dollars worth more.
The list is very interesting the most numer-
Gus being canares of course, which every taml-
" must have, if it has any Ten thousand six
hundred of these, 600 gold-fnches,50 blackbirds,
90 nightingales, 500 linnets 100 skylarks 400
fancy pigeons, l2 gold and silver pheasants, COM
prise the birds from Europe. The African and
! South American birds are parrots, wedoes, or
birds of paradise, mocking birds, (these are of
the United States,) Java sparrows, white and
red cardinals, grobrols, nonpareils, fire birds
Besides. there are hundreds more of domestic
production such rs blue birds, blue robins, vel
low birds red robins, thrashers, bobolnks, and
a multitude of other wild birds bought and sold
in New York in a single year, costing probably
$50, 900 at least. The European birds are pick
ed up in Germany chiefly by traders who i'm
port them They travel extensively for the pur-
pose among the villages, finding generally but
few in one place, and arrive in New York with
them at about this season Of the year. North
William street seems to be their principal depot.
Many have objections to bird Imprisonment;
it shocks their sentiments of liberty. Such feel
,,,,,, 1,o ;nduI,,a1 npdonhta1lv fill thQv he
come morbid, and the story by Sterne OF the
poor startling. who was continually crying, II
can't get out | can't get out" has probably
caused some tender sympathy and more atiecta-
ton. But we rather think that the musical OF
the feathered race are quite as well off when
cared for and caressed in lady's boudoir as
when liable to want, suffering, or hostile attack,
if not actually murdered or starved in the Hartz
mountains of Germany.
A bird is chiefly to lie admired for his plum
age or his song; for as to his moral character
there is not much to be favorably said. AS far
as our own observation extends, and we have
watched the canary long and closely, as well as
some other birds, we are forced to bear testi-
mony to their overbearing disposition. They
want generosity, are encroaching wherever they
can be, envious and quarrelsome. They are
all this at times to the gentler, we cannot say
beautiful sex among them for in the teathered
tribe of creatures the males are almost always
the handSomest.
1t is common to say of children they are as
sweet or innocent as birds. 1t would be sad, in
our opinion, if they were not much more so, as
we believe they are Why, these canaries, for
example, at that witchng time when Nature
softens the chds heart, (and older peoples also)
the half hour just previous to going to bed, when
spontaneous, irrepressible piety touches the
chd's heart, and warm emotions Of affection to
parents, and brothers, and sisters, and kindred,
and especially to the Maker and Protector of
ALL eush from its soul in full mingled stream
of love and piety-at this blessed hour, when
the sweet child prepares to close its eye on his
parents and playthDgs for the sumbers of the
night, blessing and blest of all-at this time does
the canary begin to poster and battle with It's.
mate to see which shall have the highest or IA
vorlte part of the perch. The whole charming
twilight is thus spent in selfish quarrel which
is only ended by the arrival of night, which pre-.
vents their contending any longer, and leaves
one of them expelled perhaps entirely from the
roost. N. B. There is one gallant fellow among
the birds-to wit, the barndoor cock.
We hardly know how to account for the great
annual investment in song-birds in the city of
New York. 1t must be perhaps because they
have such terrible amount of ugly noises there
to neutraize. Their hearts must crave some
other sounds than bawling street men and boys,
and women and girls, than rafting carts and
coaches. and the thousand other discords which
New York flesh is heir to. If such is the case,
then sing ON, melodous birds, and crack your
cheeks! You have work before You that will
task all your powers.-Neuark Daily Adrertis-