Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-03-27
The Bird Exhibition at the London
Crystal Palace.

Moncure D. Conway writes from Lon
don to the Cincinnati Commercial as fol
lows: | went out yesterday to the Orys
tai Palace to see an exhibition of novel
kind-namely, one of birds. 1t is prize
exhibition. and has been the means of
bringing together some thousands of rare
and curious specimens. many of which
are works Of the British fancier's art.
The majority are canaries, and it is won
derful what variety has been secured in the
culture of this little bird From little
brown things hardly bigger than large
sized moth, to Durly yellow creatures,
large as swallow, we have every dimen-
| sion and every variety of color and plum
| age. A prize having been offered for the
most eccentrically colored canary, we
have the drOllest arrangement of dyes
some all yellow on one side ard dark on
the other, Others striped like little zebras,
others spotted The price at which each
fancier holds his ornithologic creation is
appended in the catalogue, and these
prices are sometimes wild-one being a
thousand pounds Think Of little yell
months old, costing five thousand dol
lars in gold The average price is pound.
These little things are domiciled in
various kinds of cages; some in little
gothic mansions; others have all the
modern conveniences, including a well
from which to draw up water into it, and
one large mansion with lodgings for
half dozen birds is very elegant, and
| marked Canary Cottage" Those who
think that canaries have uniform song
would be undeceived if they could listen
for time in the Crystal Palace One
little bird has note just like the sound
of the finest string of a violin, others are
as mellow toned as German flute. For
some singular reason-probably because
the birds cannot be made to sing by the
most tender or threatening persuasions
when they do not wish to do so-no prize
is offered for either singing or talking
very important accomplishments having
thus been disregarded in the bestowal of
prizes. There is an African gray parrot,
aged Is years, which says, tom, Tom,
the piper's son. stole a pig and-run;"
"Poor old boy;" "Sally, come upl" "Go
to bed" and sundry other things. A
pretty lady came to its cage and it re-
marked, kiss me"-whereon the lady
retires in confusion. Another, not so good
looking, approaches, but is not SO fortu
nate; the bird cocks its eye and says 81
don't like YOU" A boy who laughs is
asked, "Does your mother know you're
out?" and rough passing by is hailed
with "Any old hats?" Another-a cocka-
too of eighteen months-danced till it
was tired to the tune of "Pop goes the
weasel" and then subsidized with the re-
mark "Cockey has got a bad cold.'
king Tom" is great favorite as he as
sures us that he don't bite" bids each
'Paddle your own canoe" and in
Wit 90 80 &c,
two birds which gain favor by their
enthusiastic loyalty, one-a green parrot
loving to whistle 'God save the Queen"
andthe other-a beautiful green paroquet,
with an owlishly profound expression
crying "Three cheers for the Queen! Hip
hip, hip, hurrah!' It is quite conscious
of its attractions, and generally ends it's
performance with,,"Prettv green beauty"
This it varies, however, with "Waiter,
bring Polly a pot of beer" or-it's most
extensive sentence-"Get up, Mary, and
get Polly a sweet cup of tea; quick, quick,
that's dearr' Roars of laughter and de-
light greet these various performances,
and the crowd can hardly tear
itself away from them to attend
to the other birds. The loyal parrots
are repeatedly asked their opinion on the
Central Asia question, and one being
asked its sentiments concerning the
Prince of Wales, excited great mirth by
replying, pretty green pet-pot of beer!"
There are Barbary doves, and diamond
sparrows, coral-necked sparrows, red
headed cardinals, waxbills, nightingales,
and one very pretty specimen of the Vir-
ginia nightingale. Wise magpies excite
great attention, especially one which says,
Harry, want you;" it will cough and
sneeze, and do many other things, such
as repeating the name "Annie," with
quaint pathos. Altogether, it would be
hard to beat this exhibition for interest,
and the pantomime going on-Jack and
Gill-with its superb ballets and tableaux,
can hardly retain an audience which hears
the great burst of song going on in other
parts of the vast building. This chorus
of warblers, twittering in every conceiva-
BILE strain, is most wonderful, and when
the big organ comes out with it's rich
notes, has the effect of some sea with
waves of melody sweeping through the
crystal avenues.