THE REASON OF BIRDS.
(TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPEOTITOR.") S111,—May I tell you a few facts, to prove that birds can be, like their human friends, both reasonable and unreasonable P 1. Several years ago a pair of my canaries built ; while the hen was sitting, the weather became intensely hot. She drooped, and I began to fear that she would not be strong enough to hatch the eggs. I watched the birds closely, and soon found that the cock was a devoted nurse. He bathed in the fresh cold water I supplied every morning, then went to the edge of the nest, and the hen buried her head in hie breast and was refreshed. With- out hands and without a sponge, what more could he have done P
2. The following spring the same bird was hanging in a window with three other canaries, each inn separate cage. I was sitting in the room, and heard my little favourite give a peculiar cry. I looked up, and saw all the birds crouching on their perches, paralysed with fright. On going to the window to ascertain the cause of their terror, I saw a large balloon passing over the end of the street. . The birds did not move till it was out of sight, when they all gave a chirp of relief. The balloon was only within sight of the bird who gave the alarm, and I have no doubt he mistook it for a bird of prey. 3. I have a green and a yellow canary hanging side by side. They are treated exactly alike, and are warm friends. One has often refused to partake of some delicacy till the other was supplied with it. One day I had. five blossoms of dandelion ; I gave three to the green bird, two to the yellow one. The latter flew about his cage, singing in a shrill voice, and showed. unmistakable signs of auger. Guessing the cause, I took away one of the three flowers, when both birds settled down quietly to enjoy their feast.—I am,
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