Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-04-04
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 Crys- |
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
sized moth, to Durly yellow creatures,
large as a 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 and 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 poundsl Think of little yel-
low tledgling--a 'goldfnch male"-seven
months old, costing five thousand dol
lars in gold. The average price is a pound.
These little things are domiciled in
various kinds of cages; some in little
gothic mansions; others have all the
modern conveniences, including well
from which to draw up water into it, and
one large mansion with lodgings for a
lf,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 a note just like the sound
of the finest string of 8 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 q pig and-run;"
Poor old boy;" "Sally, come up" "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
nate; the bird cocks its eye and says 81
! don't like YOU" A boy who laughs is
asked, docs your mother know you're
outY" and rough passing by is hailed
with "Any old hatsS" Another-a cocka-
too of eighteen months-danced till it
was tired to the tune of "Pop goes the
weasel" and then subsided 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
vites his visitors to "smoke." There are
two birds which gain favor by their
enthusiastic loyalty, one-a green parrot
loving to whistle Good save the Queen" ,"
and the other-a beautiful green paroquet,
with an owlishly profound expression
crying "Three cheers for the Queen Hip,
hip, hip, hurrah" 1t Is quite conscious
of its attractions, and generally ends its
performance with "Pretty green beauty
This it varies, however, with waiter,
bring Polly pot of beer" or-its most
extensive sentence-"Get up, Mary, and
get Polly sweet cup of tea; quick, quick,
that's dearw Roars of laughter and do
light greet these various performances
and the crowd can hardly teal
itself away from them to attend
to the other birds. The loyal parrot:
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 beerl T
There are Barbary doves, and diamond
, sparrows, coral-necked sparrews, 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 ant
sneeze, and do many other things, sucl
as repeating the name "Annie," will
quaint pathos. Altogether, it would b
hard to beat this exhibition for interest
and the pantomime going on-Jack ant
Gill-with its superb ballets and tableaux
2 can hardly retain an audience which hear
the great burst of song going on in othe
parts of the vast building. This choru
of warblers, twittering in every conceivs
BILE strain, is most wonderful, and whe
: the big organ comes out with its ric
e notes, has the effect of some sea wit
waves of melody sweeping through tn
crystal avenues.