Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1873-04-04
The iiird Exhibition NJ the London
Crystal Palace.

The BIRD Exhibition NJ the London
Crystal Palace.
Moneure ID, Conway writes from Lons
don 20 tho Cincinnati Cbmnaeletal "a fol-
| lows went out Yesterday 10 tho ufys.
tai Palace 60 ace an exhibition OF novel
kind-namely, one of birds, IL ID prise
| exhibition, and haa been the means or
| bringing together como thousands OF rare
and curioua specimens, many OF which
are works of the hritiah faneief'a art,
The majority are eanariea, and Il IL wans
derful what variety has been aeeured IN the
culture of thia little bird, From little
brown things hardly bigger than large
sized moth, to burly 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 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 pounds Think of a little vel
low fledgling-a "goldfinch male"-seven
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 well
from which to draw up water into it, and
one large mansion with lodgings for a
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 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-
was tired to the tune of "Pop goes the
weasel" and then subsidized with the re-
mark "Cockey has got 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 "God save the Queen"
and the other-a beautiful green paroquet,
with an owlishly profound expression
crying ''Three cheers for the Queen Hip,
hip, hip, hurrahW 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-it's most
extensive sentence-"Get up, Mary, and
get Polly sweet cup of tea; quick, quick,
that's dear" 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 beerr
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 ballots 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 its rich
notes, has the effect of some sea with
waves of melody sweeping through the
crystal avenues.