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Natural Hiftory
O F
Efiglijh SONG-BIRDS,
AND
Such of the Foreign as are ufually brought
over and efteem'd for their Singing.
' To which are added.
Figures of the Cock, Hen, and Egg of
each Species, exadlly copied from Nature,
By Mr. ELEAZAR ALBIN,
And curioufly engraven on Copper,
ALSO
A particular Account how to order the
C A N A R Y-B I R D s in Breeding ; likewife their
Difeafes and Cure. ^
The THIRD EDITION.
LONDON:
Printed for C, War e, at the Eille and Sun^ on
LudgaU'HilL m.dcc.lix.
Price 2 J. bd. Plain, 7 s, (b d. Co\o>i\^^*
«^ "
(
R E
T O T H E
A D E R
1
@
TNGING Birds are fo pleafant a ■
Part of the Creation ; whether we M
conjider their P'ariety, Beauty, or ■
Harmony ; that the Animal World fl
does not afford more agreeable Ob- ■
fweelly gratifies the Senfe cf Hearing : 'J bey were^
ttndoubtidly, defigvtd by the great Author of Na- '
ture^ on Purpofe to entertain and delight Mankind,
who, for the Generality^ are weU p.^ajed with tbefe
pretty innocent Creatures.
Therefore I thought I couldnot do a more accept-
able Service for the Loven of tbefe Jweet Cherijiers
cf the fyoodst Confidering that it hod never been yet
dene, I mean with fuch ufeful hnprevementj, than
tofurnip them with InJiruSions for preferving them
in their Hcufes., becaufe they cannot always be en-
lertained with their melodious Majick in the Fields, ^k
7o which End, in a cencife, methodical Marner,^^
^^1 have given the Defaiption, CharaEfer^ &c. o/M
1*0 &e R £ A D E R.
tubSpuUs'9 tbe Mgrh if Ceck 0Md Hfu \ tUTtme
Mi Maimer tf BuHMng their Ne^s ; ite Number^
Celour^ ice. if their E^Si he's; to erier ami vrirg
up the Tenmg ; and 'xkaier^er dfe is either pUafitnl
cr neceffary to be knavm ccnceming them.
And to render it ftill more ufefu! and entertain-
ingj there are added the Figures of the Cock^ Hen^
and Egg of each Sort^ exaifly ccpiedfrcm Nature •
This laji very plea/ant^ and jiii table Add'tion^ "jLticb
is unrjerfally delightful to all Pfrfons^ is zvafilirg
in the Books that have teen biiber:o pubU/bedcn tUs
Subje£f : Be fides tbefe^ the Reader zv:il find feme
Obfervations not to be met with in any Au:bcr[ I
do not fay this to undervalue any ctb r Man*s IFcrk-y
noy there are fme gccd Performances cf this Kind
extant \ and to ii'b.cb I own mjtlf in ^o-ne few Par*
titulars a Lehtor •, and had ikey t^hib teithe figures
cf the Birds ^ &c. as is here done, it would have am-
ticipatedmy Vefi^n.
I fhall obfer/ve nothing wore concerning what has
been done by others ; and as to ths ^reutije^ only
wijh that my Readers may receive the ^at faoliGn
that was intended by tbe/tncere Endeavours cf their
Moll Humble Servant^
A Lover of Birds.
t
^
* (•
I
ATURAL HISTORY
(
^nglijh Singing-Birds.
T}e Defcriplion and CharaEier of thi
Black Bird.
I
^X^KS^C^HIS is a Bird well known, be-
S X ^ ing common in moft, if not all
jg^ w the Counties in "England \ there-
Shl36(S(()6Cjii! fore needs not a particular De-
fcription. He is the largeft Song-Bird that
I know of, found in this Kingdom; and
likewife one of the firfl: that proclaims the
welcome Spring, by his fhrill harmonious
Voice, as if he were the Harbinger of Na-
ture, to awaken the refl of die feathered
Tribe to prepare for the approaching Sea-
m
J
z A JVaturai History of
fon : And by the fweet Modulation of hi».
tuneful Accents, endeavours to delight the
Hen, and allure her to fubmit to his Em-
braces, even before there are Leaves on the
Trees, and whilft the Frofts are in the
Fields; building their Neft the fooneft of
any Bird ; having young Ones, commonly
by the twenty-fifth of March, and fome-
tiincs by the Middle of tliat Month.
The Cock, when kept in a Cage, whiil-
les and fiiigs very delightfully all the Spring
and Summer-Time ; at leaft four or five'
Months in the Year; is a flout, hardy Bird;
which, befides his own pleafant natural Note,
may be taught to whiftle, or play a Tune.
The Black-Bird, when wild in the Fields,
feeds promifcunufly upon Berries and In-,
fefts : Tis a fclitary Bird, that for the moft
Part flies fingly.
The diftinguijhing Marks of the Cock
^^ cind Hen.
^^'T^HEY are not eafily known by their
-'- Colour while young, but the blackeft
Bird generally proves a Cock : The Irides^
or Circle, that circnmvefts the Eye in the
young Cock Bird, is yellow ; his Bill is
black, and turns not perfectly yellow till he
is near a Year old : The Bill of an old
Cock-
Englllh Singing-Birds* 3
Cock-Bird is of a deep Yellow ; in the Hea
the Tip and upper Part is black; the Mouth,
in both, is yellow within : The Hen, and
Cock-Birds are rather brown, or of a dark
Ruflet, than black, and their Bellies of an
Afli-Colour ; but after he has mewed his
^^Xhicken Feathers, he becomes Cole-Black,
The Time and Manner of the Black-
Bird's building her Nefi, &c,
' I ' HIS Bird, as I obferved before, breeds
■*■ very foon in the Year; has young
Ones by the End of March, or fooner : They
build their Nefl: very artificially; the Outfide
of Mofs, flender Twigs, Bents and Fibres of
Roots, all very ftrongly cemented, andjoin'd
together with Clayj plaiftering the Infidc
alio, and lining it wiih a Covering of fmall
Straws, Bents, Hair, or other foft Matter j
upon which Ihe lays four or five Eggs, fel-
dom more, of a bluifti Green Colour, full of
duiky Spots. They build pretty open, ge-
nerally in a Hedge, near the Ground, and
before there are many Leaves upon the
Buflies, which fo expotes their Nelt, confi-
dering the Largenels of it, that it may be
eafily difcovered.
The Cavity of a compleat Neft I mea*
fured, was two Inches and an Half deep s'
B 2 \J\■!^.\^t^
\
ii-
1
a-S
1
1
^^4 -^ Natural History of
^" Diameter at the Top, foar Inches one Way,^
and five the other, being of an oblong Fi-
gure : It weighed thirteen Ounces : TheBird
itfdf is in Length, from the Tip of the Bill
to the End of the Tail, eleven, of which the
f Bill is one Inch, and the Tail four Inches
l^ong.
■ J
Of the Youngj how to order them^ 8cc^
TH E Black-Bird has either four or five
young Ones at a Breeding, hardly ever
more or lefs ; you may take them at twelve
Days old, or fooner ; they may be raifed
with litile Trouble, taking Care to keep them
clean, and feeding them with Sheep's Heart,
or other lean Meat, that is not faked, cut very
fmall, and mixed with a little Bread ; and
while young, give them their Meat moift,
and fee|d them every two Hours, or there-
abouts; when they are grown up, feed them
with any Sort of Fledi Meat, raw or dreficd,
provided it be not fait ; it will be rather bet-
ter Food for them, if you mix a little Bread
with it; when their Neft grows foul, take
them out, and put them into a Cage or Bal-
ket, upon clean Straw; and when they can
feed themfeivcs, feparace them.
He is a ftout healthful Bird, not veiy fub-
, je<5t to Difordcrs ; but, if you find him fick
J
t
- *
■ 1.
#■-■ -
Englifli Singing-Birds.
or droop at any Time, an Houfe Spider or
two will help him ; and let hira have a little
Cochineal in his Water, which is very chear-
ful and good. They love to watli and prune
their Feathers j therefore, when they are
fully grown up, fet Water in their Cages for
fthat Purpofe.
It is to be remembered at all Times,
give your Birds wholefome good Food, never
ftale or four, and to be ever mindful of keep-
ing them clean; 'tis th e beft Means to make
all Kinds ot Birds thrive, by preventing many
Difeafes they are iiibjeift to ; occafioned chief-
ly from being kept nafty, and with bad, un-
wholefome Food.
Black-Birds are not taken old, and tamed,,
but always brought up from the Neft.
Of the Song-Thrufii.
tlhe Defcription and CharaSier.
r~ H E common Song-Thrufls is a lictle lefs
I than the Bhick-Eird: The upper Sur-
ce of the Body is of an OUvc Colour, with
a Mixture of Yellow in tlieWings ; the Bfeail
yellowiHi, fpotted with duiky Spots,
the Belly white.
6 A Natural HiSTOur of
Thae are three or fbnr other Sorts of
nnf/tfs found in Engiami i as firft, the gre^
nrujb, caUed the Mijfel-Bird, MiafieTaw,
0f Sbrite^ which in the Colour and Spots of
die Breaft and Belly, agrees with the £f n^-
nntjb^ but is a bigger Bird : He is very
beautiful to look at, but not valued ior Sin^
iDg , therefore feidom kept in a Cage.
The fecond Sort, called the Rtdmf^,.
Svineppe^ or Wind-Tbrvft^ . is in Shape and
Colour, lb like the ^ong-lkrufb^ that they
are hard to be diftinguiihed, only the latter
haih more, and greater Spots on the Bread
and Belly, and is iomewhat bigger : This
Kind is in no Efleem for Sioging. It is a
Bird of PajQage, that (hifts Places according
to the Seafbns cf the Year ; but whither it
goes, is not to us pcrfeclly known.
The third Sort is called the fmall Heatb^
^bru/bj from its building upon Heaths and
Commons ; he is of a darker Colour than
any of the other of the ^brujh Kind, and by
Ibme valued for Singing ; but as none of the
Sorts are comparable to the common Song^
fTbruJb^ at leaft, to ncy Fancy, nor fo well
known, I fhali fay no more of them, but
of the Song-TbrUf.c only j which is a curious
Bird, as well lor the great Variety of his
Notes, as his longContinuance in Scrg, which
is, at leafl, nine Months in the Year. In the
Beginning of the Spring, he fits on high
Trees,
Englifh Singing Birds. 7
Frees, and fings mofl fweelly, and is as de-
lightful a Bird as a Pprfon can delire to keep
in a Cage ; lome of them, when they have
been brought up from the Neft, have learnt
the {-Wsod- Lark's, Nightingales, and other
^^urious Birds Songs.
^^7he Marks of the Cock and Hen.
THE Cock and Hen of this Kind are
fo much alike in the Colour of their
Feathers, and Shape of their Bodies, that,
notwith landing I have carefully examined
them divers Times, could not difcover any
certain external Marks, whereby to knowr
the one from the other : Yet, thus much I
have difcovered, which will appear to a nice
Obfcrver; in a full-feathered Bird, thedufky,
or Oiive Colour on his Back, ^c. is fome-
what darker than the Back, &c. of the Hen-
Bird; and has a more glofiy Cafl; the Spots
on his Breail and Belly feem darker, and
brighter likewife, and rather more White ap--
- pears on his Belly.
It is obfervable, that in the Cocks and
Hens of alt Kinds of Birds, where the Co-'
loars are the fame in both, yet the Cock-
Bird conftantly excels the Hen in the Re-
iblendency of his Feathers : In the Song-
^^B3>ru/b, in an old Bird, this Difference. Is.'Wv;-
I
8 A Natural History of
parent ; but then we are not put to fuch Dif^
ficulties to know the Cock, he fufficiently
difcovers blmfelf by his fine Song.
In young 7brujhes, 1 Avould always chufe
the fleekeft and brighteft Bird : When they
begin to feed themfelves, both Cocks and
Hens will record : The Cock will get upoa-
his Perch, and ling his Notes low, for fome
Time; the Hen will attempt to iing, but do.
it only by Jerks, and fo difappoint your Ex-
pcflation. At the latter End of the Sum-i
mer, when their Moulting is over, the Cockaj
will break out ftrong in Song, and fing
Winter, as well as Summer.
7be lime and Manner of the build-^
ing her Neji.
THIS Bird breeds very early in the
Spring, near as foon as the Black-Bird',
(he commonly has young Ones by the End
of March, 6r Beginning of April. I faw a
Neil of Young, about die fitrh or fixth of
April this Year, notwichftantling it has been
a cold Spring, which were well feathered,
and at leaft twelve Days old.
The ThruJJj builds in Woods or Orchards
fometimes in a thick Hedge, near the Ground.
The Outfide of her Nell conlifts of tine
fcrfbft -rreen Mofs, interwoven with dead Grafs,
\
]
ifli Singing fiiRDs. 9
Engl:
^ay, &c. The Infide very curioully plaiftered
with Cow-Dung, not dawbed, asfomehave
laid, but with better Skill than many of our
Plaiilerers could do the lame Work. Note,
the Black-Bird always plaifters with Clay or
Mud, this Bird always with Cow- Dung; the
other lays a Covering of foft Stuff in the
Infide to lay her Eggs upon ; the Thrujh
lays hers upon the bare Infide or Plaifteriiig,
but not till it is thoroughly dry ; five or fix
in Number, of a bluifh green Colour, (peck-
led with a few fmall black Spots, chiefly at
the biggeft End.
The Hollow of a compleat Neft I mea-
fured, was two Inches and a Half deep ; the
Diameter of the Infide at the Top four Inch-
es ; it was exaflty round, and the whole Neft
■weighed one Ounce and three Quarters. — I
examined two more at the fame Time, which
were nearly of the fame Dimenfions with
this, but in Weight, one three Ounces, the
other three and an Half. The Length of a
full-grown Bird, from the Point of the Bill,
to the End of the Tail, is nine Inches ; of
which the Bill is one, and the Tail three and
a Half; therefore, allowing for Tail, Bill, and
Head, which always lie out when {he fits in
her Neft, the Cavity is juft fitted to receive
her Body. The fame 1 have obferved of the
Nefts of fome other Birds ; efpccially fuch
as hjiild with Sides, and make d«e^ Cwnv-
C >^^'^
r
I
►
}
i
lo Jl Natural History of
ties. The Bird ftands witliin Side, when ffis"
is at Work, and makes her own Body the
Rule of her Dimenfions» in building.
Of the Young, how to order them, &o
' I ' H E S$ng-1brujh has five or fix young
-^ Ones at a Breeding ; they may be taken
at twelve, or fourteen Days old, orlbonerif
it be mild Weather ; they muft be kept warm
and clean, and fed with raw Meat, Bread,
and Hemp-Seed bruifed; the Meat cut linall,
and the Bread a little wet, and then mixed
together : Feed them once in about two Hours j
you mufl be fure to keep them very neat and
clean, take their Dung away every Time you
feed them : When their Ncft grow& very foul,
take them out, and put them in clean Straw >
and when they are pretty well feathered, put
them in a large Cage with two or iliree Perciies
in it, and d^ Mols or Straw at the Bottom.
When tliey arc grown up, you may feed them
frith any Thing of Flelh Meat, boU'd, raw,
or roafted, provided it be not fait ; or you
may by Degrees intirely wean them of FlcAi«
anagivcthcmonlyBreadandHemp-Seedj but
I approve of Flclli, mixt with Bread, as the
beft r ood. Give them fretK Water twice a
Wa^ to waih themlelvcs i otherwilc they wiU
IkOt tfaiivc : If they are kept dir^, it will give
them
*
. \.-
••
T» -
■» >**
f » .
#
Ri
■fiigliili Singing-Birds, ii
(Cm the Cramp, which they are very fub-
jefl to. Good Vi(ftuals, Water, and clean
Lodging, is the beft Mcane to prevent it.
The Jhra/h, when in the Fields, feeds on
Infefts and Snails, as alio Berries of White
Thorn and Mifletoe.
W.' Of the Starling.
The Defcription and Chara&er.
'"!"' H E StarJing is near as big as the Black-
^ Bird, and in Shape, very much like
tliatBird. It does not fing naturally, but
has a wild, fcreaming, uncouth Note ; yet
for his Aptnefs in imitating Man's Voice,
and fpeaking articulately, and his learning
to whiftle divers Tunes, is highly valued as
a very pleafant Bird j and when well taught,
will fell for a great deal of Money, five Gui-
neas or more.
They are gregarious Birds, living and fly-
ing together in great Flocks : They compa-
ny alfo with Redwings and Fieldfares ; yet,
,they do not fly away with thera, but abide
HiMi us al( the Year.
^HTii^f Marks of the Cock and Hen^
^Y^HE RE is a Mark peculiar to the Cock
\. of this Kind, whereby he may be
-^OWn frem the Hen, whilfl: young. Under
' C 2 his
i
fi A Natural H I s T o RY 0/
his Tongue he has a black Stroak, very plaiij
to he feen if you open his Mouth, whiqh the
Hen hath not, or, at leaft, (a faint, that 'tig
hardly vlfible ; but the firft Time the Cock
moults his Feathers, he lofes that black
Stroak: He may then be known from the
Hen by his Colours, in the Beauty ot which
he much excels her. His Lreafi: has a Caft
of Green, Red, Purple, Gff. elfe the Fea-
thers all over his Body are black, with i
blue and purple Glofs, vaiying, as it is va-
rioufly expofed to the Light; only the Tjpi
of the Feathers on his Head, Neck, an'
Breaft are yellowifh ; and on the Belly, Gf<
white : All his Spots and Colours are bright-
er than thofe of the Hen. The Bill of the
Cock is of a pale Yellow, inclining to White
in the Hen, dulky.
\
k
v7he TimeybCc. of the StarllngV Buih
} ing her Nefi.
THIS Bird ufually breeds in May, haS
young Ones fit to take towards the
End of that Month, fbmetiincs by the Middle
of it. They build their Neft in the Holes of
Towers, Pidgeon-Houfes, Trees, 6ff. The
Goodnefs of thefe Birds does not depeni^
upon the Places where they breed, thougj
fume have given the Preference to one Sorj
EngUfli Sikging-Btrtds. 'f.
«nd fonie to the other; for my Part, I could
never find luch a Difference as to efteem
one Sort before the other, for the fame Birds
may build in any of tbofc Places, as they
find it moft convenient for them. She lays
four or five Eggs, lightly tinifturcd with a.
greenifh Blue.
Of the Xoung, how to erder them^ SCc
THE Starling has four or five young'
Ones at a Breeding j they may be
taken when double Pen-feathered, which
is about ten Days old ; taking the fame Care
in keeping them very clean and warm, as
was directed in the Black-Bird and tbrujh :
You may put them in a Baflcet in clean
Straw, and bring them up with the fame
Meat, and after the fame Manner as young
Black-Birds, feeding them every two Hours«
five or fix fmall Pieces at a Time ; let them
have enough, but never overload the Sto-
machs of 7oung Birds, it does them more
Harm than Good. Every Time you feed,
or take them in Hand, you may talk to'
them what you would have them learn 5
they are apt Birds, and will take it prefent-
ly. To flit their Tongues, as many People
advife and praflife, that the Birds, as thejr'
^y, may talk the plainer, is of no Service ;
— fay,
t4 A Natural History of
they will talk as well without, as I have
found by Experience as will likewife Mag--
piei^ and other taUdng Birds. When they
can feed themfelves, put them in a large
Cage with clean Straw, or Mofs at the Eot^
torn, and give them fometimes clean Wa*
ter to wafh them/elves in ; this is the moft
fure Method to have good healthful Birds,
luch as will reward your Trouble in bring-
ing them up. The Starting^ when wild,
feeds upon Beetles, Worms, and other In-
le(3s»
The Length of a full-grown Bird, from
the Tip of his Bill to the End of his Tail,
is nine Inches; of which the Bill is an Inch
and a Quarter, and the Tail three Inches
long; anH, when in Flefli, weighs about
three Ounces.
The Bird is naturally hardy and health-
fill ; but when kept in a Cage, is fubjed to
the Cramp, Fits, Gfr. fometimes it feizes
him fo fuddenly, that he will fall down from
his Pearch, and beat himfelf to Death pre-
fently ; a Spider, or Meal- Worm is a good
Remedy againft it, giving him two or three
at a Time, twice or thrice a Week. Ifyoij
give him good Meat and Drink, as I faid br
mc Biaci^Birdy and keep him clean, it will
prevent his Fits, or any other Diforder, bet-
ter than any Thing elfe that I know of.
Of
'•:•. '^-. ■'■•>
V
* -
S ^.
' . - .
Engllih Singing-Birds, ts
Of if/j^'fiti^nch.
The Dejcripikn ami Chara^er,
JDULLFINCHES are fo called froaii
-*-' their Heads, which are bUicIt, and for.
(he Proportion of their Bodies, large : la, \
ibme Places in England, they are caUedf
Nopes, in others, 1 bick-bilh-, and in fame
ftT/ Hoops : This laft Name they have, proba-
W bly, from their wild hooping Sort of a Note.
They are very docile Birds, the Hen learn-
ing after the Pipe or Whiftle, afi'well as the
Cock, having no Song of their own, but
what is taught them, in which they excel
moft Birds ; and the peculiar Rarity of thcfa
Birds is, that they never forget what they
have once learnt, tho' tliey hang among ever
fo many Birds ; Some have been taught twj
fpeak feveral Words at Command : 'Tis ^
Bird much efteemed in England, both foe
Beauty and Singing ; and defervedly in my
Judgment ; for, in the former, he equals,
and the latter, ^v'hen well tawght, excels atl
fmall Birds; they have beer* frequently ^ekd
from five to ten Guineas a Bird. '
Thefe Birds delight to feed upon the Budi
of Fruit Trees, fuch as the Apple, Pear, Peaeh,
and other Garden Trtes ; of which they
ily take the blowing Buds, and by that
Means do great Damage to the Gardeners j
who, therefore, hate and deilroy them, as a
greatPeft of their Gardens. They fay, in fome
Part of the Kingdom, a Reward is given by
the Church -Wardens for every Bullfinch
that's killed; if fo, that may be affigned a
one Reafon of their Scarcity; being lej
common than moft other Singing Birds tbi
breed with us.
I" the Marks of the Cock and Hen.
THE Cock is in Bignefs equal to xh
Hen, but hath a flatter Crown, and ex
eels her in Beauty of his Colours j a lovelj
Scarlet, orCrimfon, adorns his Bread; the
Feathers on the Crown of theHead, and thofi
that compafs the Bill, are of brighter Blacl
than thofe of the Hen : If both are (ttn to
gether, the one may very eafily be known
from the other ; the Colours in the CocI
being much more refplendent than I
Hen ; but whilft the Birds are young, it i
more difficult to dlftinguilh them : One o
the fureft Ways is, to pull oif a few Fea^
thers from their Breafts when they are aboul
three Weeks old, and in about ten or twelv<
Days after, you will perceive the Feather
to come where you have pulled, of a cui
rious Red, if a Cock; if a Hen, they wil
fa paliih Brown. Th
■^Englifti Singing-Birds. 17
The Time^ Manner ^ &c. of her building.
^T^ H E Bullfinch breeds late in the Spring j
X feldom has young Ones before the End
of May, or Beginning oi yune : She builds
in an Orchard, Wood, or Park, where there
are Plenty of Trees, or on Heaths : Her Neft
ia^not very common to be found; 'tis an or-
dinary mean Fabrick, made with feemingly
little Art : She lays four or five Eggs, of a
bluifli Colour, fpottcd at the biggeftEnd with
large dark brown, and faint reddifli Spots.
Of theYoung^ how to order them, &c.
YOU muft not takethefe Birds tooyoung;
let them be well feathered firft, at lealt
twelve, or fourteen Days old ; keep them
warm and clean, feed them every two Hours,
from Morning until Night, giving them lit-
tle at a Time : Their Meat muit be Rape-
Seed foaked in clean Water, eight or tc'a
Hours; then fcalded, ftrained, and bruifed,
mixt with an equal Quantity of white Bread
foaked in fair Water, boiled with a little Milk
to a thick Confiftency : Make but little at a
Time, but let them have frefh every Day,
it being apt to four in two Days, and fuch
Meat will fpoil the Birds : When they be--
gin to feed themfelves, break them from this
t Meat as foon as you can ; then give them
D Ra.^
1
1
I
\
f 1 S j4 Natural History of
Rape and Canary Seed, the fame as you di
the Linnet^ but more of the forrner than thi
latter. If at any Time you perceive them oul
of Order, put a Blade of Saffron in their Wa-
ter i and you may try them with the Wood-
Lark's Meat, or tine Hemp-Seed, but keep
moftly to Rape, with a Utile Canary-Seed
mix'd with it.
You muft remember often to pipe, whiflle,
or talk to them, whitft they are young, what
you are minded they ihould learn, and you
will find them foon take it.
A BiiUJiTich, at full Growth, is fix Inches
long, from Point of Bill to the End of the
Tail, of which the Tail is two Inches : In
Weight thirteen Drachms.
I Of the Goldfinch,
Which infome Places^ frojii its fee
ing in Mi^inter Time on thi Seeds i
Ihiflks, is called Thiftlefinch.
T'he Defcription and CharaEler.
T is fevery where in 'England wtjl known,
and highly efteeraed both for Singing and
for the Elegancy of its Colours, being cer-
tainly the moft beautiful and fineft -feathered
of all Cage-Birds : A Ring of curious Scarlet-
coloured Feathers encompafies the Fore-part
of
I
i
Englilli Singing-Birds. 19
of his Head, or Bafis of the Bill; and from
the Eyes to the Bill on each Side, is drawn
a black Line ; the Jaws are white, the Toji
of the Head black, from which a broad
black Line is produced on both Sides, almoft
to the Neck ; the hinder Part of the Head
is white ; the Neck and Fore-part of the
Back are of areddifii Afh-co!our; theRump^
Breaft, and Sides of the fame, but a little
paler; the Belly whithh ; the Wings and
Tail black, only the Tips of the principal
Feathers in both are white ; befides, the Wings
are adorned with a moft beauttfid tranfverle
Stroak of Yellow or Gold-colour. I (hould
not have been fo particular in defcribing the
Colours of this Bird, but I think the great
..yariety that Nature has painted it with,
"lerein it excells all fmall Birds, at leaft
lat are found in thefe Parts of the World,
ake it de/erving of it ; yet, by reafon of
Age, Sex, or other Accidents, the Goldfinch
fometimes varies from thefe Colours.
They are of a mild and gentle Nature, as
may even thence appear, that prefently after
they are caught, without ufing any Art or
Care, they will fall to their Meat and Drink ;
nor are they fo affrighted at the Prefence of a
Man as molt other Birds are wont to be, not
very'much troubled at iheir Imprifonment in
a Cage ; for, if they have continued there a
;ood while, they like it' fo well, thai though
D 2 ^QV
_^ar
I
I
r4o A Natural Hist oiLX of 1
foa let diem loofe, Acjr will oat By Awt^M
bat liiun fcared, AfOBcaij to didr Cage^l
tbdter, ss I hare prDrcd bjr Expericticc. ^|
They arc caBcd la fcmc Pbces, DrtV'
Waten, from thdr Aptsc6 to learn to draw
their Water when dtry want to drink, in a
little Ivory Bucket, faileocd b> a imall Chain,
made for that Purpofe : TIs a pretty Sight to
fee with what Dexterity thefe little Creatures
will pull up their fiucLet, drink, and throw it
down again ; and lift up the Lid of a ioaall
Box, or Bin, with their Bill, to come at their
Meat, Gff . They are wonderfully delighted
with viewing themfelves in a Glafs, fixed to
the Back of their Bucket-Board, where they
will fit upon their Perch, pruning and dref-
fing themfelves with the grcateft Care imagin-
able, often looking in the Glafs, and placing
every Feather in the niceft Order ; no Lady
can take greater Pleafure, or be more nice in
, dreffing herfelf, than this little beautiful Bird
is in rectifying all Diforders in his Plume, not
fufFering a Feather to lay amifs. ^H
The Goldfinch is a long-lived Bird, that w^|
fomctimes reach to the Age of twenty YearsM
Mr. IVillougbby makes mention of one that
lived twenty-three Years. They are Birds
that fly in Flocks, or Companies ; and whea
at Liberty, delights to feed upon the Set
,of Thiftlc, Tcafel, Hcrop, Dock.Gfc.
FEngUfh SiNGiNG-Bi&DS. 2r
Ihe Marks of the Cock and Hen,
TH E Feathers on the Ridge of the Wing
in the Cock are Cole-black, quite up
to the Shoulder, whereas in the Hen Bird,
though they appear black, are of a grey, or
duflty Aih-colour, when compared to thofo
of the Cock ; He is browner on the Baclo
and Sides of the Breaft ; the Red.Yellow, and'
in ibort, all his Colours are much brighter
than thofe of the Hen : Thefe are conftant,
infallible Marks, by which the Cock may be
known from the Hen, either old or young i
Beiides, the Hen hath a fmaller Note, and:
fmgs notfo much.
r he time, Manner ^^c, of buildiftg
their Nefl.
THE Goldfinch begins to build in ^pril^
when the Fruit- Trees are in Bloflbm :
As they excel all our fmall Birds in Beautyi
of Feathers, fo do they Hkewife in Art :
Their Neft is not only very fmall, but ex-
ceeding pretty; the Outlide confifts of very
fine Mofs, curiouily interwoven with other
foft Bedding ; the Infide lined with delicate
£ne Down, Wool, ^c. She lays fix or feveft
white Eggs, fpeck'd and mark'd with a red;
diih Brown. To find their Neft is not vc
2% A Natural History 0/
eafy, for they generally build in Fruit- Trees,
d/z. Apple, Pear, Plumb, Gfc. but moft com-
monly in the Apple, pretty high upon the
Branches, where either the Bloflom or Leaves
intercept our Sight j and at fuch a Time,
when we cannot come at them without the
Hazard of damaging the Bloom, or young
Fruit. I have known thefc Birds very often
to build in the Elder-Tree ; and fometimes in
Thorns and Hedges ; but not near fo com-
mon as in Fruit-Trees.
Of the Youngs how to order them^ £cc.
THE GolJfiticb has fix or fcven young
Ones at a Breeding; thev are tender
Birds, and therefore rtiould not be taken too
foon ; let them be pretty well feathered firft ;
they will not be fullen, hke the Young of
many other Birds, by flaying too long in the
Neft; when you take them, prepare their
Meat after this Manner : Soak white Bread
in fair Water, ftrain it, and then boil it with
a httle Milk, tilt 'tis as thick as Haiiy-pud-
ding, adding to it a little Flour of Canary-
Seed ; with this Meat feed them every two J
Hours, or oftner, giving tlicm but little at al
Time, two or three fmall Bits only; bcginj
to feed them about Sun-riling, and continue!
after this Manner till Sun-fetting: Lcttheinl
" Ave frefh VitSuals cvcrv DaVj or every other!
Day!
Englifli Singing-Birds. 25
Day at fartheft ; when you have fed them a
Month, OF thereabouts, begin to break them
ftotn this foft Meat, by giving them a little
Canary-Seed, and foft IVIeat befides; when
you find they feed pretty freely upon the
Seed, keep them conftantly to that Diet;
the' they will cat Hem-Seed, and fome other
Kinds of Seed, yet 1 never found it agree fo
well with them as the Canary.
If a young Goldfinch be brought up under
the Canary-Bird, the Pf^ood-Lark, or any
other fine finglng Bird, he will take their
Song very readily : 1 am told of a Lady that
has one of thefe Birds, at this prefent Time,
that will talk very finely.
A Cock-Bird, bred from the Neft, will
couple with a Hen Canary-Bird, and pro-
duce a Bird between both Kinds ; partaking
of the Song, and Colours of both.
The Length of a fall-grown Bird, from
the Tip of li^is Bill to the End of his Tail, is
five Inches and a Half; of which the latter
is two, and the former a little more than Half
an Inch long ; when in Flefli the Bird weighs
about an Ounce.
This, as I faid before, is a long lived and
very healthful Bird, that is feldom out of
Order; but when I find him droop, I give
him Saffron in his Water ; if he has a Scour-
ing, crumble a little dry Chalk in his Cage,
or among his Seed, or ftick a Bit betwixt the
I %4 j^ JVaiural History of
Wires of his CagCj and Gravel at the Bottom,
and try him with a little Thiftle-Seed, or
other Seeds which they delight to feed upon
when wild : The firft may be found in the
great Thiftle, at the Bottom of a white
Down.
Thefe Bii-ds are taken almoft at any Time
of tlie Year, either with Lime-Twigs, or
theCIap-Net, in great Numbers ; the young
Flight in yutie, J^fy* ^'^ ^uguji ; but the
bcft Time for catching them is about Mi~
cbaelmas : They frequent the Fields where
the Thiflle, and thofe other Seeds grow, as
mentioned before ; They are eafily caught,
being of fo gentle and familiar a Nature, and
will both feed and fing prefently j when you
firft take them, you may give them Hemp-
Seed, or fome of the fame they love to feed
upon in the Fields ; you may foon bring
them to feed on the Canary, which is more
wholefome, and agrees better with them
thaA Hemp-Seed,
d
Of
I
Englifli Singing-Birds, as j
Of the Chaffinch.
'^he Defcription and CharaBer.
THE Chagjncb is a flout, hardy, well
known Bird ; being common almoft
in every Tree or Hedge j of the Bignefs of
the Bullfinch ; lavilh in his ^ong, and when
brought up from the Neft, or Branchers,
will fing lix or feven Months in the Year;
the wild, not above three Months ; and
chiefly in breeding Time. Some of thefc
Birds prove good and valuable, but the great-
er Part not worth keeping.
'Tis a Cuftom among the Bird-men, when
they want to learn the Chaffinch a Song, to
blind him when he is about three or four
Months old ; which is done by clofmg up his
Eyes with a Wire made almoft red-hot, be^.
caufe, as they fay, he will be more atten-
tive, and learn the better; but J am fure it
Would be much better never to confine them
in Cages, than purchafe their Harmony by
fuch Ufage. I think it is enough to deprive
thefe little innocent Creatures ot Liberty for
■our Pleafure and Entertainment; but to put
out their Eyes to encreafe it, is exceedingly
barbarous. If what they alfign for this, is
true, yet the Praiitice is cruel, and what no
E QTNP
%
I
^%6 A NaiuraiHl STORY o^^^
one, who has any Tendernefs in his Nature,
would ever be guilty of. This poor Bird,
befides the Pain of the firft Operation, and
what he fufFcrs before, to prepare him for it,
by being kept in Darknefs till he can find
his Meat, &c. and the Mifery that follows
for a Fortnight, or more, is fometimes tor-
tured a fecond Time, becaufe, perhaps, he
has rubbed his Eyes open again, ov the Cru-
elty was too favourably performed.
T^e Marks of the Cock and Hen. ^
TH E Male of this Kind may be dif
guidied from the Female, at ten (
twelve Days old i the Difference is very plain, I
if you view them together : I have a Neft '
of young Ones before me at this Time, of
that Age; the Cock-Bird has a great deal
more White in his Wing than the Hen, par-
ticularly on his Pinnionj his Breaft is remark-
ably redder, and the Feathers of the whole
Bird of a higher and brighter Colour than
the Hen's. In an old Bird, the Head of the
Cock is bluifli, the Back of a reddifli Brown,
■ with a Mixture of Alh-colour or Green ; the .
Breaft of a fine Red ;'-' and the Belly under
the Tail white. The Colours of the Hen
are not fo bright and lively; her Rump is
green. Back not fo brown, and the Belly not
red^
Englifli Singing-Birds. ^27
red, inclines to a dirty Kind of Green; the
J BreaH: is alfo of a duller Colourj more upon
the Grey.
[ 7he Time and Manner of Building
their Neft, &c.
TH E Chaffinch breeds in May, and has
young Ones the Beginning of that
Month. She builds near the Top of an high
Hedge, or on the Branches in the Side of a
Tree : Her Neft is the prettieft of all fmall
Birds, excepting the Goldfinch'%., which, I
think, excels it in Beauty : The Outfide is
green Mofs, fmall Sticks, withered Grafs,
Horfe and Cow Hair, Wool, Feathers, G?r.
the Infide lined with Feathers, Hair, Wool,
&(. making an exceeding foft Bed for her
Young.- The Infide, or Cavity of the Neft,
is an Inch and tliree Quarters deep ; the Di-
an^eter two Inches and a Half; and not-
withftanding the Bottom and Sides of this
curious Fabrick, were near an Inch thick,
the whole Weight of a compleat Neft was no
more than i^-v^n Drams. Another Neft,
whofe Dimenftons agreed with this, was
two Drams lighter. The Bird itfelf, when
fully grown, weighs about fourteen Drams:
L Its Length from the End of the Bill, to the
nJfaul of the Tail, isfixlnchcsj of which the
^B E 2 latter
I
■
a8 A Nmiiral History of
latter 13 two and a Half long. She lays ufu-
ally four Eggs, but fometimes five, of s^
whitifli Colour, fpotted with a few larg^l
reddifh brown Spots, with a few fmall Specks
and Streaks at the blggeft End, of the fame-,
Colour.
Of the Toungi how to order them^ &c
THE Chaffinch ha^ commonly but fou#
young Ones at a Beeding ; you maj
take them when they are about ten Days oldj
and feed them as you do the Goldfinch a
Ziinnef i they are hardy Birds, that may b
eafily raifed : And when they are out of Or-
der, apply the fame Things as you do t^
thofe Birds when fick.
Thefe Birds are taken with Clap-lSlets
great Plenty, in June and July, efpecially''
the young Flight, which we call Brancbers^
when they come to drink at their Watering^
Place, ^c. therefore 'tis hardly worth thtf
Trouble of bringing them from the Neft;
though fo'me that are breed under the fwecC
Song Cbaffincby fometimes prove very goi
Bird?
I
I
k
«vf*.
/
•■^ V . ..-itf*
• . • V >....-
•^
V* ,1
-•. r. '
.i-^
.y
f 1 - - , ■
«..<
/^
.-'<f
^%
/>*
• » » ^* ■ \
i
Englifh Singing-Birds. 29
Of the Greenfinch.
Gfeen-Llnnet, or, as it is commonly \
called^ the Green-Bird.
^^klhe Defcripiiori and CharaSier.
IT is a little bigger than the Cbaffitich^ of
a ftrong, hardy Nature : They are fre- 1,
quently kept in Cages, but not much efteemed
for Singing; they are more valued fof their
learning to ring the Bells in a Cage con-
trived for that Purpole : Tho' fume of them,
jf brought up from the Neft, will learn to '■
pipe, whiftle, and the Song of moft other
Birds.
At the Beginning of Winter, and in hard:
Weather, they gather in Flocks, and may W
taken with the Uap-Nets in great Numbers.
7he Marks of the Cock and Hen,
HIS Head and Back are green, the Edges^
of the Feathers greyiih ; and the Mid-'
die of the Back hath fomethiog of a Chefnut-
Cclour intermix'd : ThcFore-part of his Head,
Neck, and Breafl, quite down to his Belly,
and Rump, are of a deep yellowifli Green ;
K lower Belly inclining to whitilh : Th* j
Borders ^1
,£ jTinsrs zLiiraar af
'"ri *
r '^^ 'irsTzmr ^sil-Fcathcrs of
u^ x:: :r in Hi^Jir Tdlc w ; and the
' .•,,.* '•,:'^ -cmr ^^^ ^.vT^i:? ir fie Winz, are
' . :c;' ^.-'^^ -i^j-vie: .^e Colours of
:t X". : r:,rrr ::ic ivd^T ; and on
• •■
■■■:;•.;: .:•!: ritic m~ ~^ ^
/• ^ ^-r :•. ^ TT-^LL ^"Cts- "Hie joung
v.* XX ^'^.•.^. .5 -*v:r & "n^^ irt fiiihercd,
^> r '.'c i^.*^- .^it^TCTt.*^ JT zitdr Build'
•»- -
' 1 ^ V- ..Vrffr-oi- •; rsr •ziuir.r Oc« ibout
>luvXSv. c"^. VX' V:^v;.vr :i: 3-i':iif . lie in-
\\^\^. S.VAI c^. c\T urc n'^iVT'' 5rr -its
•u «^*^ tvvLfc^ iJ»gv I*^ 1m\w vis 4:: Inch
whole v\^LUiVtkk« W^iy^^rvM i:»rrir IVimf j
iUrt'civvl not u\ Wc'p:^c ^--c^ !m-: i I>rim,
and had DuiKt"-ioii$ ^Jx. -Jl^— -.i The
i> fram ih< l^isi oc^ hjs S:-- z: th'C Zco cf
w
\
EngllfH SiNGlNG-BlRDS. 51
the Tail, is fix Inches and a Half; the Bill
is half an Inch ; and the Tail two and 3
Quarter. ItsWelght is about fixteen Drams.
Of the Toungy how to order them^ &c,.
SHE has five or fix young Ones at a Breed-
ing ; they may be taken at ten Days old,
and brought up with the fame Food and
Management zsLinnels, or other Birds of the
Finch Kind ; they are not very tender, only
.keep them clean, and there is no Fear but
' 'ley will thrive. Andafterall, Icannotre-
immend them for pleafant Cage Birds. If.
lu regard his Colours, he is as finely fea-
lered as mofl Birds ; and in an Aviary makes
as pretty a Show as the beft of them.
He is feldom fick j but when he is, give
him what you give Linnets or Cbajinches.
m
P Of the common Linnet.
7he Defcription and Chara^er.
FOR the Sweetncfs of its Singing, the
Linnet is fo much cfteemed, that by
many Perfons, he is thought to excel all fmall
Birds : He has certainly a curious fine Note,
little inferior to the beft of Birds ; he may
be taught likewifc to pipe, whiftie, or th$
rSong of any other fine Bird ; but as his owa
I
r'g 2 ^ Natural H I S T O RY c/"
^ fo good, that Trouble Is unneceiTary J the
natural Note of any fine Song Bird, to my
Fancy, is ever to be preferred ; but where the
Bird has but an indifferent Song of his own,
then to learn him to pipe, whiftle, Gfc is
pleafant, and well worth the Trouble. He
^']s pretty apt in Learning, if you bring him up
^om the Nefl, and will take the Wood-harK%
'Eong to Perfeftion, or that of Canary Birds.
The Marks of the Cock and Hen.
YOU may know the Cock-Bird, either oli
oryoung; by thefetwoMarksj firfl:,the
Feathers on his Back are mnch browner than
thofe of the Hen; fecond, by the White of
hisWing. TakeyourZ.wwf^.when theWing-
Feathers are grown, and flretch out his Wing,
holding his Body fall with the other Hand,
and then obfeive the White upon three or
four Feathers ; if it appears clear and bright,
and reaches up to the Chills, it Is a lure
Sign of a Cock-Bird ; for the White in the
Wing of the Hen is much lefs, and fainter.
7bs Time and Manner of their Buil4-
hing.
^~\^ H E Linnet has young Ones by the EnJ
X. of yi/jr/7, or Beginning of A/jy; bLi" "
commonly in a thick Bulh or Hedge ; 1 1;
, ^cen her in both black and uhite 1 hornj
Ukewilcl
\
Englifli SiNGiNG-BiRbs. 33
likewife builds among Furze-Buflies, Ssc.
making a fmall pretty Neft ; Tiie Outfitie of
BentSj dry'd Weeds, and other ftubby Mat-
ter ; and the Bottom all matted together :
The Infide of fine f()tt Woolj or Cotton,
mixed with downy Stuff gathered from ilry'd
Plant?, with a icvf Horfe Hairs, exceeding
neat and warm. The Cavity of this Neft
was one Inch deep ; Diameter three Inches^
and tfie Weight five Drams. The Neft here
defcribed, was taken with young Ones in a
Furze, May the ninth, this prefent Year. I
believe the Neft which the Linnet builds in
aHedge, differs from this in the Materials ; I
had not an Opportunity now of examining
both. She lays either four or five white Eggs,
with fine red Specks, efpecially at the blunt
End. The Bird, including Bill and Tail, is
live Inches and a Half long, of which the
former is Half an Inch, the latter two and a
Quarter j in Weight ten Drams.
Of the Young, how to order them^ Scd
THE Linnet has four or five young Ones
at a Breeding ; they mav be taken at
ten Days old, or fooner; they will learn the
Song of another Bird the better for being
took young ; but be fure to keep them very
and feed them once in two Hours,
F from
from fix in the Morning, till fix or feven at
Night: Prepare their Meat as was directed by
the Bullfinch, viz. Rape-Seed foaked in Water
eight or ten Hours ; then fcalded, ftrained,
and bruifed, mingled with an equal Quantity
of white Bread, foaked in fair Water, llrained
and boiled with a little Milk, as I faid before,
to a thick Confiftency ; let them have frefli
every Day, becaufe four Meat will fling the
Birds into a Scouring, which often brings
Death ; when they begin to feed themfelves,
fet fcalded Rape-Seed in their Cages, to wean
them from the Bread and Milk as foon as pof-
lible, becaufe, fometimes feeding too long up-
•n foft Food, will make them rotten : It wiU
be a Month or fix Weeks before they will
be able to crack their Seeds, and live entirely
upon hard Meat. In the mean while, for
Change of Diet, you may give them fome
of the PVood-Lark's, or other Birds Viduals.
There are other Sorts of Food made ufe of
in bringing up young Linnets, but this Ji
proved to anfwcr as well as any.
inielAxmct*s Difiafes and their Cures.
THIS is a very healthful Bird J 1 have
known them kept many Years with-
out ailing any Thing : But fometimes he is
troubled with Melancholy, occafioned from a
Swelling at the End of his Rump, which,
if
Englifh Singing-Birds* ^5
if ripe, you m^y with a Needle let o'.it the
Corruption, and anoint the Part with the
Ointment made of frelh Butter and Capon's
Greafe, and feed him for two or three Days
Vi'ith the Seeds and Leaves of Lettice, or
Beets, or the Seeds of Melon chopt in Pieces,
which he will eat very greedily ; and when
you find hini to mend, take the Melon Seeds,
&c away, and give him his old Diet again :
You may put into his Water a Blade of Saf-
fron, and white Sugar-Candy for a Week or
more, till you ptrceive the Bird to be entirely
recovered.
The Difeafe this Bird is moft troubled with,
is a Scouring, occafioned by bad Seeds, and
many Times for Want of Water. There are
three Sorts of this Diftemper ; the firfl very
thin, and with a black Subftance in the Mid-
dle, which is not very dangerous. The fe-
cond is between a Black and a White, but ,
not fo thin as the other, but very clammy
and flicking ; this is worfe than the former.
It is recovered by giving the Bird Ibme Me-
lon-Seed Hired ; Lettice-Seeds,and Beet-Seeds
bruifed ; and in his Water put Liquorice or
SaiFron. The third and worft Sort of Scour-
ing is the white clammy, which is dange-
rous and mortal, if not looked after in Time.
For this, give him firft Flax-Seeds, taking
jvyay all other Seeds > then give him Plan-
^ht', F 2 taiii- ^
I
^^36 A ?/aiura! HisroRX of
tain-Seeds, if green, otherwife they will
him no Good : For Want of Plantain-Seeds,
give him fonie of the Leaves ibred fmall, of
a little briiifed Htmp-Seed; pui:ing into his
Water, as before, Sugar-Candy Liquorice, or
3 Blade or two of Saffron : You may give thq
Bird now and then a fmall Matter of feeded
Chick- Weed, and a little Chalk. You mult
be diligent at the fiilt !o obferve him when
he is Gck, that fo he may have a Stomach tp
eat : For this third ard worft Sort of Scour-
ing, if it be not taken at the firll Appearana
it immediately caufcth him to droop, and n
(wo or three Days his btomach will be qui"
gone, and then all Medicines are ufekfs.
hinneti are taken with Ctap-h'ets in yum
yuly and Augufl ; and likewife Fligbt-BirA
about Michaelmas in great Plenty, by laylnf
the Nets near where the Birds come to drii^
or feed ; or any Spot of Ground they i
qucnt.
As you catch the Birds, put them m^
what you call a ftore Cage, made for t
Ufe, and give them fome of the fame Bed
you find them feeding upon, and put inn
the Cage likewife fine Hemp-Seed ground \
bruifed ; feed them after this Manner fc|
two or three Days, fetting them where the?
will not be difturbed, and they will foon
grow tame ; then you may cage them fingle.
Engllfli Singing-Birds. 37
in Back Cages, or any other, not too big;
and feed them with Rape and Canary-Seed,
which agrees the bed with them of any
" ;d.
I
Of the Twite.
^he Defcription and CharaSkr.
TH E Twite is in Colour and Make
fomething Hke the Linnet, but lefs ;
be has a very fhort Bill, .and dark, or black-
iih Legs ; the Cock has a curious red Spot
upon his Rump, which the Hen hath not.
'Tis a Bird vailiy briflc and merry, that's al-
ways a finging, therefore they hang him a-
:paong other Birds, to provoke them to ling.
They do not breed in England, that I know
of, but come here in Winter, and go away
again in the Spring; but what Hlace they
come from, or whither they go, to us is un-
known : The Bird-catchers take them as they
do Linnets, &c. They eat Rape and Canary-*
Seed, but love the Canary beft : 'Tis a pretty,
familiar, gentle-natured Bird, well worth
keeping.
I am jufl now told by a Gentlema.n, curi-
ous in fuch Enquiries, that the Twite is com-
moa
3 S A ^z^rsl History of
men !.i il:rr.^ Pirts ::' F-^jr^i, and is called
ther^ '- V 1 Nir^e, t.\:: :i: --vith us liTOiiies the
i^ner Lr-ict ; j.:^d :1:j.: i:^ r.^^ is like the
Cy the Sky-Lark.
The DzfcrlptljTi and Cbara&er.
TH E Ccck Sh'Lari is as good a Song-
Bird as moit this Land produces : He
is vaftly ftout and lavilh in his Song ; but
thought by ibmc People, too loud and harih.
I mull: own, Ao' he has a great many fine
Notes, they are not fo melodious as the JFood-
Lark'Sj which in Variety and Softnefs, much
excels him, and to mv Fancy, all Imall Birds,
without Exception ; but that valuable Bird is
exceeding tender, very fubjeft to the Cramp
and other Difeafes, that he can be kept but a
/hort Time in a Cage; two or three Years
we count a great while : I don't deny but
fometimes they reach beyond that Date ; yet
the far greater Number make their Period a
great deal fooncr ; whereas the Sky^Lark is a
long-lived, healthful Bird, that will reach
fifteen or twenty Years ; I have heard of
fcvcral which have lived to that Age, and
fung
'^^A:^
.... .^.
^- t.
w'
;
.^■.
Englifli Singing-Birds. 31
fung ftoutly all that Time; therefore, con-
fidering the Statelinefs and Beauty of this
Bird ; his great Freenefs in Tinging his plea-
fant harmonious Notes, for at leaft eight
Months in the Year, and the Time he may
be kept in a Cage, with Care, is highly de-
ferving of the Character I have given him,
and worthy theEfteem of all Lovers of Birds,
If you can bring a young one up under fome
fine Song-Lark, 'tis a Way to have a very va-
luable Bird ; but if you fuffer him to bear
other Birds, he will be apt to take their
Notes, whether good or bad, to which no
Bird is more fubjcd:.
H To know the Cock from the Hen.
TO diftinguifli one from the other in this
Kind, is no eafy Matter; and about
which there are various Opinions, but har4ly,
one that can be depended upon : They fdjr,
the Bird that fets up his Feathers on his
Crown, is certainly a Cock; and that the
longeft Heel Bird is another fure Sign, and
Ibme fay, by two white Feathers in the Tail":
This is all but guefs Work, that fometimes
proves right, and fometimes wrong. I am
told, the biggeft and longell bodied Bird liever
fails of proving a Cock ; I can*t fay that"!
ercr made the Obfervarion myfelf, nor do I
pretend-
r:40 A JVatural History of
pretend to know a Cock Bird of this Kti|
till be is about a Month old ; when he i
begin to record his Notes very diilindlly, lil
an old Bird, but low and inwardly ; if yj
bear bim do that, yon can't well be dcceiv<
When they are grown up, and fully fpatfac
ed, that general Remark, in fonie Meafui
pwill hold good, that the higheft coloured Bi<
\ the Cock; for whoever obferies them b
her may perceive the Cock- Lark to I
nething browner upon the Back ; of a roi
rcUowiih Call on the Throat and BreaA, a
fee Feathers %¥hiter upon the Belly.
7be Time and Manner of buildix
their Nefl, &c.
' I'^HE Shy-Lark has young Ones by t
-■• 'End oi April, or Beginning of Aftr
She builds her Neft, fuch as it is, for f
ufes but very little Stuff about it, only wi
a few Bents, or fuch like Materials, alwaj/j
upon the Ground, or in a Hole made by tn
Foot of a Horfe, the Wheel of a Cart, &t
either in Corn-Fields of any Sort, or in Pafi
ture of any Kind ; and lays four or fiv
brown Eggs, almcft the Colour of a Clod o
Earth, thickly fpeck'd, a* the Figure reprb
, with browailh Sptcks.
^^BD3»» with
^^^^^^^^^^^ II I II ■
Englifh SiKGiNG-BiRDS. 41
Of the Youngy how to order them^ &c.
THESE Birds muft be taken when a-
bout ten Dayfe old ; if yoQ let thetn
alone longer, you run a great Hazard of lofe-
ing them ; I have known them quit their
Ncft in feven or eight Days, when they have
been difturbed, efpecially if the old Ones fee
you look at their Young, they will then in-
tice them away of a fudden ; and in rainy
Weather, 'tis furprizing to fee how young
they will leave their Neft \ I have been difap-
pointed at fuch a Time, when I thought it
alraoft impoflible for them to get away; one
would naturally think the Neft to be the beft,
and fafeft Place for them in fuch Weather ;
but fo it is, 1 have remarked it often, that
ihe Young of moft, if not all Kinds of Birds,
are nouriihed more, their Feathers grow
fafter, and fooncr fly, or quit their Ncfts in
wet, than in dry Weather.
When you have taken a Neft of Young,
put them into a little Balket with fome fhort
clean Hay at the Bottom, cover and tie them
down clofe and warm, and feed them with
white Bread and Milk boil'd thick, mived
with about a third Part of Rape-Seed, foak'd,
boil'd and bruifed : Some bring them up with
Sheep's Heart minced very fine, or other
"1 Meat J I cannot too often repeat the
G Care
42 A Natural ViisrovLT of
Care that is neceflary in bringing up yoong
Birds, in keeping them clean, feeding them
regularly once in about two Hours, from
Morning till Night with ffefh and wholcfome
Food, as the principal Means of prefcrvmg
them : In aWcek's Time you may cage them
in a large Cage, putting fomc Hay cut prettjf
Hiort, or coarfe Bran at the Bottom, tarning
or fliifting it every Day ; order them after this
Manner till they can feed themfelvcs with
dry Meat, 'viz. Bread, Egg, and Hemp-Seed,
which they will do in about three Weeks or
a Month. Remember to boil your Egg very
hard, chop it fine, and mix it with an equal
Quantity of Hemp-Seed, bruifcd while the
Birds are young, but when they are able to
crack the Seed, give it them whole, and a
little Hread grated among it. You may then
let them have a frefli Turf of Grafs once or
twice a Week, and fift fome fine dry Gravel
at the Bottom of the Cage, fliifting it often,
that it may not clog their Feet : For Change
of Diet, you may fbmetinaes give them a lit-
tle of the Flefh Meat. After they have done
Moulting, you may give them Bread, Egg,
and whole Hemp-Seed every other Day, and
a fredi Turf once a Week. As the Birds are
of an hardy Nature, this careful Manage-
ment will preferve them many Vears.
This Bird at full Growth is fix Inches and
a Qnartcr long ; of which the Tail is three
Inches,
' ' Englifli Singing-Birds. 43
Inches, and the Bill three Quarters of an
Inch. When in Flefh it weighs about aa
Ounce and Half.
The Sky-Larky as mentioned before, fel-
dom ails any Thing, but if you perceive him
at any Time to fcour, dung loofe, grate a
fmall Matter of old Chcefe among his Viiflu-
als, or give him three or foui Wood-Lice in
a Day, or a Spider or two, nnd in his Water
a little Saffron, or Liquorice; thefe are the
bell: Things that I can recommend ; and
what will relieve him, tho' he won't often
ftand in Need of any Thing more than good
Meat and Drink, clean Gravel, and a frefli
Turf.
Several Ways of catching Sky-Larks.
To take Pufhers.
THEY are Birds which have left their
Neft three or four Days : To take
them, you mufl watch in fome convenient
Place, as much out of the old One's Sight as i
poflible ; either ftand clofe in a Hedge, or
lie down in the Field, Gff. and you will pre-
fently fee them bring Meat to feed theu'
Young ; which, as foon as they perceive, aiij
oblcrve them to hover juft over the Grafs, G?f.
and drop down on a fudden, run in upon
"""iCm as fait as you can, where you will ge-
G 2 neraP
ncrally find the young Birds; if you miA
them, fearch narrowly about, for they will
creep into fome Hole and lie clofe, or in i
large Turf of Grafs, (^c. fometimes they will
■ Tun away among the Grafs or Corn, exceed-
ing faft ; when they do that, you caji very
feldom catch any : You muft wait for the old
Ones bringing them Meat again, but don't
run in the firil Time, fee if they come two
or three Times with IVleat, and fettle at the
fame Place ; if at different Places, and at lit-
tle Diftances from each other, then you may
be fare the young Ones have ftraggled in th«
Fright, and are atthofe diiferent Places ; you
may then run in where you judge they are,
by the conftant coming in of the old Bitds,
which will find them out, and Toon get thent
together again.
When you take any of thefe Birds, put
them in a large Cage with Hay or coarfc Bran
at the Bottom, and feed and order them as
J^ou do the Neftling. If you find them ful-
en, that they won't eat, you muft for a little
while cram them with Sheep's Heart, &e.
they will foon come too. Thefe Birds gene-
rally prove as good, or better than tha"
failed fropi tlie Neil.
Engllfh SiNQiNG-BiRDS. 4P
la take Branchers.
WE call all thofe young Birds by that
Name that were bred, and ftt;^v that
Year, about two or three Months old, befor*
they have moplted their nefliing Feathers j
what are takeo at that Age, before they be-
gin to moult, are very good, little inferior to
the Neftlings, but after they have moulted^
or in moult when taken, feldom prove good
£irds.
The Time for taking Brancben is in yuaa
or yul^i with a Hawk, and a Net of about
eleven or twelve Yards long, and three or
four broad, with a Line run through the
Middle of it. There muit be two Perfona,
one to carry the Haivk, the other to take hold
of one End of the Line ; and when you find
where Larks lie, get as near to them as you
can, then hold your Hawk up upon your.
Hand, making him hover his Wings, which
when they perceive him, will lie very clofe'
to the Ground } then let one take hold at onfi
End of the Line, and another hold of the
other End, till you come at the Place where
they are, holding your Hawk up as you goj
at the Sight of which, they will lie fo clofe
that you may very eafily draw your Net ovc^
them. When you have taken them, give
(hpoi ^read. Egg, and bruifed Hemp-Set ^
put in the Bottom of the Cage red Sand
and ftrew them a little Meat in the Cage for
two or three Days, and they will prefently
become tame,
Sky-Larks are taken in Flight with Clap-
Nets in great Numbers. In Ibme Places they
take them with a Glafs, called a Larking-
GiaJ's ; this they ufe of a Sun-{hiny Day, and
rnakes great Havcck amongft thefe Birds :
But the moft deftrmSive Way is in the dark
Nights with a Net called a 'Trammel ; 'tis a
very murdering Net, taking all Sorts a
Birde that it comes near, as Partri^ei
flails, &c. Larks are enfnared likewlfi
with a Noofe made with two Horfe Hairs
twifted together, which catches ihem bft
their Neck or Legs. This Way is praftiled
when the Ground is covered with a deep
Snow.
K 0/ the Wood-Lark.
7/jt; Defcription mtd CharaB&r.
THIS Bird is univerfally admired for
his great Variety of foft and delight-
ful Notes, that in tlic Opinion of moft I'eo-
ple, he is the beft Song-Bird found in this
Kingdom : Me ie not only, as fotne have faid^
com*
Englifh Singing-Birds. 47
comparable to the Nightingale for Singingj
but, in my Judgment, deierving to be pre-
ferred beiore that excellent Hirdj and if he
be hung in the fame Room, wJU ftrive with
him for theMafteryi aslikewife itfometimes
h'appens in the Woods, where there is a flrong
Contention between thefe two charmingCho-
rifters to excel and out-do each other.
He is of great Beauty, both in Shape and
Phime: Jlis Breaft and Belly are of a pale
yeliowifh Hair Colour, faintly fpotted with
Black ; the Back and Head are party-co-
loured of Black and reddilhYellow, a white
Line encompafTing the Head from Eye to
Eye, like a Crown, or Wreath. It is fome-
thing lefler, and fhorter bodied than the com-
mon Sky-Lark, and fits upon Trees, which
that Bird feldom or never does.
The Marks of the Cock and Hen.
HE is known by his Size, the biggeft,
and longcft bodied Bird generally
proving a Cock ; and by the Largencfs and
Length of his Call j the tall Walking of the
Bird about the Cage ; and at Evenings the
doubling of his Note, which we call Cud-
ling, as if he were going to Rojft. Other
Marks are by the Length of his Heel, the,
Largcnefs of hisWing, and by his letting i"-
y^S A Natural Hist o-Bi^ of
tile Crown upon his Head : Some will td^
you, that thefe are certain Signs of its being,
a Cock ; yet they do not always prove true f
LBut if you hear him fing ftrong, you cannot
Jl>e deceived, for the Hen Bird will iing bul
riittle. The Ufe of this is chiefly to kno?
thofe Birds that are taken at Flight- Time
bccaufe ihofe taken at other Seafons, fi
foon after they are taken, or not at all.
cannot give any certain Notes to know the
Cock from the Hen, Whilft Neftlings > unlefii
it be by that general Remark, that the higheft
coloured Bird always proves a Cock, and that
the biggeft, and longell: bodied, and otht
Marks before mentioned, will hold good i
fuch young Birds, as well as thofe that ai
full-feathered. This Particular indeed is not
very material, becaufe fo few are brought us
from the Neft ; it being very difficult, with
the utmoft Care that cad be taken, to raife
them ; either the Cramp or Scouring kills
them ; or they die in Moulting.
%e Time and Manner of their BuHS
ing, &c. ''•
I
^^V T is a very tender Bird, and yet bree<
jL early in the Spring, as foon as the B^aa
BirJ, or any other j the young Birds being
ready to fly by the Middle of March. The;
"^uild at the Foot of a Bufli or a Hedge, o
Kiik
Englifh Singing-Birds. 49
in Lays where the Grafs is rank and dry, un- .
der ibraeTurf to Ihelter them from the Wea-
ther, Their Keft is made of withered Grafs,
fibrous Roots, and other fuch like Matter,
with a few Horfe Hairs within Side at the
Bottom, being a fmall, and very indiiFerent
Fabrick j it has hardly any Hollow or Sides,
the Bottom was almoft upon a Level with
the Top : The whole Compofitlon did not
weigh a Quarter of an Ounce : The Weight
of the Bird a little above an Ounce; its
Length fix Inches, of which the Bill is fome-
thing above Half an Inch, and the Tail two
Inches. She lays four Eggs of a pale Bloom
Colour, beautifully mottled and clouded with
Red, Yellow, ^c.
Of the Youngs how to order them^ Sec.
THE Wcod-Lark, as 1 faid before, breeds
very early in the Spring ; her young
Ones are tender Birds, and generally four in
Number : If you are minded to bring them
up from the Neft, which you will find ex-
ceeding difficult to do, don't take them too
foon, not before they are well feathered ; be-
caufe, when they are too young, they are
more fubjeifl to the Cramp and Scouring^
which commonly kills ihem : Put tliem into
a Bafket with a little Hay at the Bottom, or
fome fuch Thing, where ihev may lie clean
H ' and
A /Vatural HlsroRt i^^^^
aod warm, tying them clofe down : Feed
them with Sheep's Heart, or other lean Flefli
Meat raw, mix'd with a hard boil'd Egg, a lit-
tle Bread, and Hemp-Seed bmifed orgroDnd*
all chop'd together as fine as it is pofBble to
do it, and made a Kttle moift with clean Wa-
ter: Every two Hours, or oftner, give them
five or fix fmall Bits, taking great Care never
to overload their tender Stomachs. Let not
their Meat be too ftale, dry, mouldy or four,
for your Birds fo fed, whether old or youni
will never thrive.
The wild Ones feed upon Beetles, Catei _
lars, and other Infe<5ts; likewire upon Seeds.
The ff^oeJ-Lark, as if fenfible of his own
melodious Song, will take from no other, ui
lefs brought up from the Neft ; then he
be taught the Song of another Bird.
ir|d^
irks
J
7ieSea/ons/ar catching Wood-Larks
w//j6 Nets ^ and bow to order tbetfu^
FIRST, Brancbers, which are Birds
were hatched that Spring, are taken in
June and July, with a Net and a Haxct,
after the fame Manner as I told you they took
Sky-Larks. You may find thefe Birds har-
bouring about Gravel-Pits, upon Heath am'
common Land, and in Pafturc Fields. F<
Fear of the Hawk, they will lie fo clofe, th
^^■^ngllfli Singing-Birds, j5lf
fopietimes they fuffer thenilelves to be took up
with theHand. Thefe Birds foon grow tame.
The next Seafon is for Michaelmas Birds,
which are taken with Clap-Nets in great
Numbers in September, and are counted bet-
ter Birds than what are catched at any other
Time of the Year, becaufe keeping them all
the Winter, makes them more tame than
Birds catched in "January or Fi-bruary^ and
will ling longer, eight or nine Months in the
Year. Wood-Larki, at this Time, commonly
fly very high, therefore the higheft Ground
is iifually chofe to lay the Nets upon, like-
wife in a Cart- Way, or where a Spot of Earth
is frefli turned up ; or fometimes you may
turn it up on Purpofe.
A third Seafon for taking IVoad-harh is la
January ; what are caught at that Time, arc
very ftout, good Birds, and will ling in a few
Days after they are taken, both flouter and
louder than one taken in September, but not
ling fo many Months : Thefe arecatch'd with
the Clap-Net likewife, as they are at Michael-
mas ; and are found at that Time of the Year,,
lying near a Wood-Side in Pafture Ground,
where the Sun rifes.
Wood-Larks are fometimes taken when they
are match'd with their Hen, which, I think, is
wrong ; they'lhould by no Means be difturb-
ed in breeding Time, or when they are pre-
paring for it : The End of January ought to
H 2 bft
a A Natural History of ■
: the lateftTime for taking thefe Birds, b&jB
.ufe they are early breediDg Birds, that i^|
,e Weather be mild, couple at that Time^l
- or foon after ; befides, the Bird taken then ill
worth very little ; 'tis true, he will iing almoft^
as foon as you have him, by reafon of his
Ranknefs in accompanying with theHen, but
■will foon fall off from his Song, and yon hear
but little more from him all that Summer.
All the IVood-Larks taken at different Sea-
fons, muft be fed alike with Hemp-Seed
bruifed very fine, and mixed with Bread and
Egg hard boiled and grated, or chop'd a^
fmall as poffible. When he is firft taken, he
will be i\\y for a little Time ; you muft fift'
fine red Gravel in the Bottom of his Cage,
and fcatter fome of his Meat upon it, which
will intice him to eat fooner than out of his.
Trough; you may leave that off when yott'
^^Bnd he eats out of the latter freely.
^■^ In a great Meafure, order his Diet as the
^^xky-Lark's ; give him no Turf of Grafs, but
often fine red Gravel in his Cage ; and when
not well, inftead of that, put Mould full o^
Ants, which is the moft agreeable Live-food
you can give him. Or give him Meal-Worms,
or Hog-Lice, not more than two or three t
Day : And let him have a little Saffron or Li-
quorice fometimes in his Water. If he fhould
fcour., grate Chalk or Cheefe among his Mea^
"~id amongft his Gravel likewife. He will e^t
any
EngUfti Singing-Birds^ ss'
any Kind of Flefh Meat minced fine, and
ordered as before for fome other Birds, which
you may now and then let him have for
Change of Diet, always leaving fome of his
conftant Meat in the Cage at the fame Time,
that he may eat which he will.
An uncommon Care fliould be taken of
preferving this fine Bird, becaufe he is fo very-
tender, in often fhifting his Gravel, Viftuals,
Water, &c.
I
0/ the Tit-Lark.
1%e Defcription and CharaBer,
THIS Bird is lefs than the Sky-Lark,
about the Bignefs of the Nightingale j
very handfome fhap'd, and finely feathered j
that in Beauty few Birds excel him : He fings
mod like the Canary-Bird of any whatfo-
ever, whilking, curring, chewing, &c. but his
Song is fhort, and hath nn Variety in it.
Sometimes indeed a Cock Tit-Lark proves a
very fine Song-Bird, but Ms very rare, and
the beft of them fing but four or five Months
in the Year.
He comes with the Nighfiugah, about the
End of Marcl.\ and goes about the Begin-
ning
r B4 A NaturalHisroKY of
ning of September. Before his going away,
he is apt to grow fat like the Nightingale : He
is a hardy Bird, and long-lived ; Ifpreferved
with Care, not fubjeft to Colds or Cramps.
TBe Marks of the Cock a?id Hen.
IN this Kind the Cock is all over more
yellow than the Hen, but elpecially un-
der the Throat, on the Breaft, Legs, and
Soals of the Feet. In Neftlings, they can't
well be diftinguiHied by their Colours, there-
fore mufl wait till you hear them begin to
record their Song, which is the fureft Sign of
a Cock-Bird.
Of their NeJi,bCQ,
THEY build amongft Grafs, or in
Corn-Fields ; her Neft is fmall, pretl
much like the Wood-Lark\ : She lays five or'
fix Eggs of a dark-brown Colour; and has
young Ones fit to take towards the End of
May.
They may be brought up with the fai
Meat and Management as youngPf^ood-Lai
orNighiingales: But I think it hardly woi
the Trouble, becaufe fo many are takei
when they firft come to vifit our Part of rf
Worl.
rfW^
"^
World, both with Clap-Nets, and Lime-
Twigs, as they catch Linnets^ Goldfinches, &c-
When you firft take them, tie the Ends of
their Wings with Thread, to prevent their
fluttering and beating themfelves againft the
Cage, and tliey will foon grow tame. Feed
them as yon do the IVood or Sky-Lark: At
firft give them Hemp-Seed and Bread, made
very fine and mixed together ; hkewife Ants
■ Mould in their Cage, MeaI-Worms,©'f.ftrew
their Vidtuals about their Cage, to allure them
to eat, and in three or four Days they will
take it freely enough; and will fing in about
a Week's Time. Cage them Jingle, in a Cage
fomething clofer than the common H^ood-
Larkh,
I
Of the Robm-Rcd-Breaft.
7 he Defer iption and CharaEier.
THIS Bird, denominated from its red
Breaft, is fo well known in almofl all
Countries, that it needs no long Defcription.
It is by many Perfons efteemed little inferior
to the Nightingale ; the Cock has a fweet
melodious Song, fo free and {hrill, that very
few Birds can equal him.
In
M
la "*"*^*'T I
E 56 J^ Natural UlsroKX^
In cheWinter-Tiine^ vdKadiaci
dty of Meat abroad, to feck ks Fa
enter into Houfes widi mocb Confideac^ In
ing a very bold Bird, fodablc ;
with Man : But in the Sumiocr, when that
is Plenty of Food in the Woods, and it ii
not pinched with Cold, will withdraw iticlf
into the mod defert Places, being z iblitu;
Bird, that loves to feed fiogly; andliresBpoa
Worms and other Info^s, Ants, and their
Eggs, Crumbs of Bread, ^f. Nctwithflaadiog
thcfc Birds arc faid to withdraw from Hoafci
into the Woods in Summer-Time, as indeed^
ibme of them do, yet are there a great n
that breed and harbour about Farm-Yai
■ and Out-Houfcs all the Year round.
^' The Maris of the Cod and Hen. ,
THE Cock may be known by his Bre;
being of a decptrRed than the Hen'd
and the Red going up farther upon the HeadI
and fume fay, by the Colour of his Leg
which arc darker, and by certain Hairs whicl
crow on cucli Side of his Bill. His bright r
lircaft is a Mark that may he depended uponJ
the other do not always aniwer. TheCocI
is likcwifc of a darker OUve-Cotour upon t* '
upper Surface of his whole Body.
Englilh Singing-Birds. 57
^he Time and l^anner of building
their Nefl, &c.
THE Robm has young Ones by the End
oi April, or Beginning of May. She
builds in a Barn, or Out-houfe ; fometimes
in a Bank or Hedge ; and likewife in the
Woods : Her Neft is made with coarfe Mate-
rials J the Outfide of dry green Mofs, inter-
mixed with coarfe Wool, Imall dry'd Sticks>
Straws, dry'd Leaves, Peelings from young
Trees, and other dry'd Stuff; with a few
Horfe Hairs within Side : It had a very little
Hollow, hardly an Inch deep, and about
three wide ; the compieat Neft weighed eleven
Drachms. Another, whofeDimenfions were
equal with this, was Half a Drachm lighter.
The Bird is fix Inches long, of which the
Bill was little more than Half an Inch, and
the Tail two and an Half long, She lays
commonly, either five or Cx Eggs, but fome-
times no more than four, never lefs, of a
Cream Colour, fprlnkled all over with fine
redifli yellow Spots ; at the blunt End fo
thick, that they appear almoft all in ope.
Of the Young y how to order thsm^ &c.
AT the Beginning of May, the KGhhi
uhially has young Ones fit to take,
five or fix in Number : You may take them
I ' at
I
I
I
58 A Natural H I s t o R'
at ten or twelve Days old ; if you let theaJ
lie too long, they are apt to be Allien ; keep
them warm in a little Bafket, with Hay at
the Bottom i feed them with thcfi^oad-Lark't
Meat, or as you bring up young Night-
ingales i let their Meat be minced very fimllt
as ordered for other Birds, giving them but
. little at a Time j if you over-load thdr
tender Stomachs^ it will diforder the Birds ^
when they are grown ftrong, cage them
in a Cage, like the Nigbiingaks or Wood-
Lark's i it (liould be fomething clofer wi-
cred, and let them have Mofs at the Bot-
torn; and, in all Refpefls, keep and or-
der them like the Nightingale : When they
feed themfelves, you may try them with
the Wood-Lark's Meat, becaufe fome of
thefe Birds like it better than the Night'
ingale's.
Of their Di/eafes and Ci4re.
'T^TIEY are very much fubje£b to the
J. Cramp and Giddlnefs ; for the Cure
of the former, give them a Meal- Worm
now and then ; for the latter, fix or fevcn
Earwiggs in a Week.
There are many Kinds of Infcfls that
Birds will eat greedily, and very probably
would relieve them under Maladies, coula
ihcy
Englifla Singing-Birds. 59
they be conveniently procured at all Times,
ilich as young, fmooth Caterpillars (a Robin
will not touch a hairy one) fome Sorts of
Spiders, Ants, Gfc. but I know of no Infeft
that is more innocent, or agrees better with
Birds in general than the Meal-Worm,
which may be had with little Trouble at the
IWeal-Shops almoft at any Time. The Ear-
wig I do not approve of, that Infed is armed
in the Tall with a Pair of very fharp For-
ceps or Knippers, which it can clafp toge-
ther, and. may wound or hurt the Bird.
Above all, to prevent Difeafes, be fure to
keep him clean and warm, taking Care ne-
ver to let him want Water or wholefome
Food, and Sometimes a little Saffron or Li-
quorice in his Water, which will make him
chearful, long-winded, and help him very
much in his Song.
A young One brought up from the Neil,
may be taught to pipe or whiftle finely; but'
I prefer liis own natural Song to thofe that
are taught him, becaule it is an exceeding
good one.
Rohins are taken with Lime-Twigs, and
likewife with the Trap-Cage ; by this kft,
great Numbers are enfnared.
An old Bird, when he is caught, is apt to
be fullen ; when you put him in a Cage,
will not fmg, but a young Cock Bird will
iing in a few Days, What Birds you catch,
I 2 in
Mo A Natural
in your Traps, feed and order them as yott
4o the Nightitjgales,
Of the Red-Pole.
^he Defcription and Chara&er,
TH E Red-Pole is a very fmalt, but an
exceeding pretty feathered Bird : The
Head and Breaft of the Cock are of a fine
Red : The Hen has a Red Head likewife,
but not of fo bright a Colour ; 'tis not a very
fine Bird for finging, but has a pretty chat-
tering Sort of a Song, I can't call it very
melodious, yet they are often kept in Ca-
ges, and eat the fame Sort of Seeds as the
Jji?met or Chaffinch. We are not fure that
thefe Birds build in England; they are
found here in Winter, but go away again
in the Spring. I never faw or heard of any
of their Nefts being found ; I rather be-
lieve they come to fhun the Cold, as the
^6erdivine, Twite, and fome other Birds do.
They aVe taken as they catch Linnets^ Go/d-
^ncbes, and other (mall Birds. Mr, IVil-
lugbby has not the Red- Pole in his Col-
ledlion, defcribed by that Name, or any
Other that will exaftiy anfwerj but 1 be-
lieve
rf-
r*
^t
..\\ ^
^ • «
EnglifliSiNGiNQ-BlRDs. 6i
lieve it to be the fame with what he calls
the Lejer Red-beaded Linnet ; his Defcrip-
tion o? that, agreeing in many Particulars
with this Bird, which is as follows : This,
fays he, is lelTer than the precedent, meaning
the Greater-Red-bcaded Linnet^ which he
makes leffer than the common, and will a-
gree very well with the Size of the Red-Fo/ei
the Back coloured like the common Linnet i
the Forehead adorned with a remarkable
fhining red Spot ; the Bill like that of the
Great Red Linnet, but lefs; the Breaft reds
the lower Belly white ; the prime Feathers
of the Wings and Tails duflcy ; the Tail
about two Inches long, and fomething fork-
ed ; the outmoft Borders of the Wing and
Tail-Feathers round are white; theLegsand
Feet are dulky j the Claws black and long,
for the Bignel's of the Bird, but the Legs
very fiiort.
In this Kind, the Female alfo hath a Spot
on her Head, but more dilute than that of
be Cock, and of a Saffron Colour.
^^WBWnfflTO
Of the Red-Start,
irhe Defcriptiony Chara&er, &
Marks of the Cock and Hen,
IT is a fmall Bird, fomething lefTer than t
Robin-Red-Breaft. The Cock is v.
beautiful, his Breaft, Rump, and Tail ,
of a fine Red ; the Back, Neck, and him
Pari of the Head of a Lead Colour j
fore Part of his Head and Throat of a Jej
Black, and has a white Mark upon his F
The Hen is a beautiful Bird likewifc, but"
partakes more of the Colour of the Nightiri'
gaUt with a red Tail, fomething Winter
than the Cock's. The Cock is known at allj
Times from the Hen, by his black HeadX
that Mark being peculiar to the Male onlyJ
He fings fwectly, and has pretty Notes, ven
pleafant to hear.
0/ their Breeding j when to takei
and bow to order the Youngs &c.
THESE Birds breed in May^ have young^
Ones fit to take by the Middle of thatfl
Month. They build their Nefts in thel
Holei
Holes of old Walls, Trees, t^c. Their Eggs
are like the Hedge-Sparro-w'Sf but of a paler
Blue, and not fo big.
This Bird is faid to be fo dogged and
fullen a Temper, that if taken when old,
will not for fome Days look at his Meat;
and when he feeds himfelf, will fometimes
continue a whole Month without finging ;
but if brought up young, they become gen-
tle and tame j and with regard to her Neft,
they fay, fhe is the fliieft of all Birds ; for
if (he perceives you to mind her when Ihe
is building, ihe will forfake what ihe hath
begun i and if you touch an Egg, never
comes to her Neft more ; and If you touch
the young Ones, will cither ftarve or throw
them out of the Neft, and break their Necks,
as Mr. Willugh^ fays, he found by Expe-
rince more than once.
The Young are to be taken at ten Days
old, and are to be fed and ordered as the
Nightingale or Robin-Red- Br eaji. Keep them
warm, and they will fmg in the Night as
well as in the Day, and will learn to whiftle,
and imitate other Birds : When wild it feeds
upon Infeds, &c. like the Robin or Night-
ingale, and 'tis thought comes to us in Sum^
mcr Time, and goes away in the Winter
f which Matter I own myfelf ignorant.
Of
\aturac M r s t o RV >f
fc. r: Of the Common Wren.
l%e Defer iption and CharaSler.
EXCEPTING it be the Goi/fa-CrowaVi
Wren, this is the fmalleft Bird fount
in this Kingdom j it weighs about threi
Drachms; its Length, from the Point of i*
Bill to the End of the Tail, is four Inche
and an Half. He commonly creeps about
Hedges and Holes, making but fhort Flights^
and if it be driven from the Hedges, may
eallly be tired and run down. It will
upon a Barn or Tree, S'c. about a Farmer'!
Yard, where it moftly frequents, and fin*
exceeding fine; and being kept in a Cagq
it will fing very fweetly, and with a higher
and louder Voice, than one would think for
its Strength and Bignefs, and is a very pleafing
Bird, that will fing a great many IVIonths ia
the Year. Some Perfons have kept thefe
Birds a great while in a Cage, and hav«
I ad them fing as ftout as if they were in the
ields.
Hbt
fTr^, Ccrck. Hen. atuLE^S '
-. »
V
-■v'^
./
»■■■•" • . "
%
(V
;!i(h SiNolNG-BlE^F
en. I
:)n the 1
The Marks of the Cock and Hen.
T.HE Cock is of a dark Brown upon
Head and Back ; his Breslt and Belly
whitifh ; the Tail and Wings are varied with
a bright Yellow, and blackifli Lines. The
Bird with the largcftEye is generally thought
to be a Cock. The Hen bird is all over of
a redifli Brown Colour, excepting the Lines
a-crofs her Tail and Wings, which are black
and redifh. The Difference in young Birds
can hardly be known till the Cocks begin to
record and ling.
^e Time and Manner of their Build-
ings SCc.
THE Wren has young Ones in May i
fhe builds her Neft fometimes by the
Walls of Houfes, in the Back-Sides of Sta-
bles, or other Out-Houfes, but more com-
monly in Woods and Hedges, in a very ar-
tificial Manner, having the Form of a Su-
gar Loaf; without of Mofs, within of Hair,
Wool, or Feathers, and hath in the Middle
of the Side a Door or Palfjge, by which
it goes in and out j fhe lays a great Num-
ber of Eggs, fometimes fifteen or fixteen,
but many Times hatches not above half
I
K
that
00 j^jsaturat wiSTORr oj
that Number ; they' are very fmall white
£gg$» ^inkled aU over wniki (mall pale red
Spots.
I'
*■
Of the Toung\ bow io order tbetrtj &c
IF voti ire minded to' bring up a Neft of
Writhe let them be very welt ■• iFeathered
btifiMi<e you takd thenil : The^ are to be fed
and reared like the young 2V]i^)^ift//«g'tfi!ri, giv-
ing fhem often ^ and but little at a Time,
one or two very fmall Bits. When they arc
gf ovi^h fit for a Cage, let them have a large
one ma^ with very clofc Wier ; one Side of
which flrould ,be made like unto a Squirrel
E[oujfe, -and have it lined with aay Thing
that is warm. Keep them conftantly to the
Nightingales Food; and there is no Queftion
but they will anfwer your Expedlation ; you
muft take the fame Care in keeping them
clean and warm as of young Nightingales.
And if at any Time they are lick, give them
two or three Flics, or a fmall Spider or two,
but not too many Infed:s.
Of
?.
^*
-4,1 #*■*»*..
.»■•«'■
- »
«. . t ..
Engllfh Singing-Birds. ,6^
Of the Nightingale.
The Defcription and CharaSiir, \
NOtwithftanding the particular Fancy of
divers Pcrlons, for this or that Bir^l
which they efteetn and prefer to all others,
the Nightingale, by the Generality of Man-
id, is ftill accoLuited the Chief of all fing-
ig Birds : lie fends forth his pleafant Notes
"th To lavifli a Freedom, that he makes
even the Woods to echo with his melodious
Voice; and this delightful Bird, fcorning to
be out-done, will not yield to any Compe-
titor, either of Birds or Men ; the Wood-
hark is his greatell Antagonift, between
whom there fumetimes happens fuch a Con-
tention for Maftery, each ftriving to outvy
the other, that, like true bred Cocks, tliey
feem refolved to die rather than lofe the
Vidlory; if the former carries it in Stoutnefs
and Freenefs of Song, fo docs the latter in
his pleating Variety of foft warbling harmo-
nious Notes, in which, to my Fancy, npne«
excels, or is equal to him.
The Nightingale is not fo remarkable for
any Variety or Beauty of Colours, but well
known from its finding by Night : In Size
K 2 be
i
&8 ^natural HlsxORir e;
1
he b about the Bignefs of tile GolJfinclr,
fomething longer bodied.
Thefe Birds are not feen in this Kingdom
in the Winter- Time } where they are when
ebfent from us, is altogether unknown ; Tliey
come towards the latter End of March,
Beginning of jipril, and leave us at the li
ter End of the Summer. Thofe that are kept
here in Cages will iing feven or eight Months
in the Year, from the Beginning of Novem-
ber till Midjkmmer : There muft be a great
deal of Care taken to keep them clean and
warm, and they will ling all theWxnter.
7'ie Marks of the Cock and Hen,\
THERE are no particular Marks
their Colours to know them by ; bdj
as in other Birds, fo in thefe, the Cock i
of a deeper and brighter Colour than t _
Hen, which, when feen together, may eafily
be perceived, and is fomething larger. In
Neftlings the Cock may be known by this
Token j after he hath eaten, he will get \
on the Perch, and begin to tune or recoj
to himfelf, which you may obl'erve by ' '
Motion of his Throat ; whereas the Her
firiV records little, or not at all.
I
Englilh Singing-Birds; 69
Tie Time and Manner of building
their Nefl, &c,
THEY have young Ones tifoaHy by
the Middle of May^ build in a clofe,
thick Hedge, pretty low, a little above the
Edge of the Bank, and ciioft commonly
where Briars, Thorns, Buflies, and fuch like
Things grow very thick, to fence them from
their Enemies, making their Nefl of the
Leaves of Trees, Straws, and IWofs, and
lay Eggs of a brown Nutmeg Colour.
It feldom fmgs near its Neft, for Fear of
difcovcring it, but, for the mod part^ about
a Stone's Caft diilant. It frequents cool and
Ihady Places, where are little Rivulets of
Water, fuch as quick-fet Hedges, fmall
Groves and Bulhes, where are no very high
Trees; for it delights in no high Trees, ex-
cept the Oak.
To find the Ntghti/iga/es Nell, obfervc
where the Cock fmgs, and if Ihe fines long
in a Place, then the Hen is not far off; but
if he hath young Ones, he will now and
then be miffing ; and the flen, when you
are near her Neft, will fweet and cur; but
if you have fearchcd long, and cannot find
it, try this Experiment ; ftick two or three
Meal- Worms upon the Thorns, near where
~ yo»
f Nsiural History^
^^^^ItheCockmoft frcqueots, &nd ftan
^PPfi" Ke down ciofc, keeping the Won
in ^lew, and ohferre when hs comes
take xhem. which Way he carries thei
"ftcn, and you wiU hear the Young whei
; old Ones feed them, for they make
at Nwieforib fmall a Bird. When yoo
_^|ive found die Neft, if they be not fledged
^cooagh, touch them not, if you do, they
I Hrill not ftay long, the old Ones will intice
diem out.
OftbeToungf how to order tbem^ Stc,
THE I^i^kingale has five young One*
at a Breeding i they Ihould not be
taken till they are fledged almoft as well as
the old Ones ; and though they are apt ta
be fallen, and refute their Meat when they
are fo old, you may open their Mouths,
and give them two or three 'mall Pieces i
a Time, and in a few Days they will conn
to, and feed themfelves : if you take therii
too young, they are fubjetSt to the Cramp
and Loolenefs, which makes their Feathers
mat together, and kills the Birds. When
you take them, put the Neft in a little hii-
kct, and' keep the Birds covered up warm,
• they are very tender,, and without fticl
tare the Cold ^vill kill th'fm. Feed Ui«
.<
■ - V'.
.v^v* \.%vv. •'v.i'-'S .^•-\v. .•,.•;'»>'■>'■
very
lf% A Natural History of
keeping them clean and neat, whereby ther
clog their Feet, which caufea the Claws of
fcveral to rot off, and breeds the Cramp and
Gout in others, and makes them never thrive,
nor delight in themfelves. No Birds can be
kept too clean and neat, therefore be fure
to let them have twice a Week Gravel at
the Bottom of the Cage, and let it be very
dry when you put it in, for then it will not
be fubjeft to clog.
In Autumn this Bird is apt to grow- <
traordinary fat and foggy, that fometimes h
will hardly touch his Meat for a Fortnight
or more; during that Time give him three
Times a Week Meal-Worms, two or three
at a Time, or Worms taken out of PJdgeon-
Houfes, or two or three Spiders a Day,
which will purge and cleanfe him well.
Upon the falling of his Fat he muft be
kept warm, and have a little Saffron in his
"Water. To raife them when they are very
lean and poor, give them Figs chopped
fmall among their Meat, continuing no h
kinger than till they have recovered thdefl
Flefh. -^
When they have been kept two or three
Years in a Cage, they are very fubjeiS to the
Gout ; anoint their Feet with fre{h Butter
or Capon's Greafe, three or four Days
£«ther, and it is a certain Cure for then
Thd
i
itteri
len^H
^H Englifli Singing-Birds. 75
^Tliey are fubjedt likewlfe to breakings out
about their Eyes and Nib, for which ufc
the fame.
If they grow melancholy, put into their
Water fome while Sugar-Candy ; if that
will not do, befides their conftant Meat of
Sheep's Heart, &c. give ihcm three or four
Meal-Worms^a Day, and a few Ants and.
Ants Egg, and fome of their Mould at the
Bottom of the Cage : Alfo boll a new-laid
Egg, and chop it fmalj, and ftrew it among
the Ants and their Eggs, and let them have
Saffron in their Water.
The Nightingale is fometimes troubled
with a Straitnefs or Strangling of the Breaft,
which comes very often for Want of Care
in making his Meat, by mincing Fat there-
with, or by reafon of foine Sinew or Thread
of the Sheep's Heart, for Want of well
fhreddlng, hanging in his Throat, or clafp-
ing about his Tongue, which caufeth him
to forfake his Meat, and grow very poor
in a (hort Time ; when you perceive this,
which is known by the Bird's gaping, and
the unufual beating and panting of his
Breaft, take him gently out of his Cage,
and open his Bill with a Qmll, and un-
loolcn any String or Piece of Flefli that
may hang about his Tongue or Throat :
After you have taken it away, give him
fome white Sugar-Candy in his Water, or
L elfc
^ Natural HISTORY of
elfe diflblve it, and moiften his Meat, which J
i* a prefcnt H^niedy tq any Thing that \
amifs.
ingates, and to order them •wbed^
taken.
THE former are to be cutch'd in yt^!y^
or Beginning of ^a^a/?, the latter at
the End of March, or Beginning oi fipril;
thofe taken in A'arcb, or before the 12th of
j^pril, are counted the befl Birds. What are
catch 'd after the 12th of that Month, when
the Cocks are matched with the Hens, b]
reafon of their Ranknefs, feldom come to an;^
Thing, it being very difficult to prefervc them.'
When you have found the Birds Haunts,
which is ufually in a Wood, Coppice^ or
quick-fet Hedge, you may take them by the
Trap-Cage, made on Piirpofe for catching
of Nigbtingaks, baited with a Meal- Worm :
Place your Trap as near where the Bird
fings as you can ; if it is in the Middle of the
Hedge, or a Place where he ufed to feed, be-
fore you fix the Trap, turn up the Earth a-
boQt twice the Bignels of the Trap ; for where
theGround is new turned up, there they look
for Food, and efpying the Worm they come
prefcntly to it; if they come not foon, thci
i
^iirelently to it; it they come not loon, thci^^
^Bnrn up a frefh Spot of Earth, as big agma^f
EngtifhSlKGiNG-BlfiDS. ^5
as the former, and you will quickly have
them, for they will not leave the Place where
they ufe to rcfort. It is proper to this Birdi
as they fay, at his firft coming, to fettle, or
feize upon one Place as its E'reehold, into
which it will not admit any other ISightin^
gak but its Mate.
Thefe Birds are taken likewifc with Lime*
Twigs, by placing them upon the Hedge,
near where they ling, with Meal-Worms
laftened at proper Places, to allure them to
the Snare; but I think the Trap-Cage is »
great deal the bell Way of catching them.
As foon as you have taken one, tie the
Tips of his Wings with fome Thread, not
flraining it too hard, to prevent his beating
himfeif againft the Top and Wires of the
Cage; he will grow tanie the fooner for it,
and be more apt to eat his Meat; You fliould
put him in a Nightingale's Back Cage, or if
an open one, darken one Side with Cloth or
Paper ; and at iirft hang him in forae private
Place, that he be not difturbed. ' Feed ht/n
once in an Hour and Half, or two Hours»
with Sheep's Heart and Egg flired fraall and
fine, mingling amongfl: the fame, fome Ants,
or Meal-Worms. And becauie no Nighti/i-
gak will at firft eat any Sheep's Heart or
Egg, but muft be brought to it by Degrees j
his Food being live Meat, as Worms, Ants,
Caterpillars, or Flies ; therefore, talting the
L 2 Bird
^ ^6 A Natural History
Bird in your Hand, you muft open his Bil|
with a Stick made thin at one End, and giv«^
him three, four, or five Pieces, ac£ordinga8
he takes them, as big as Heas; then let him
fome Meat mingled with Store of Ants, that
when he goes to pick up the Ants, be niay
cat fome of the Heart and Egg with it ; At
the firft you may Ihred three or four Meal-
Worms in his Meat, the better to intice bim^
that fo he may eat fame of the Sheep's Heart
by little and little, and when you perceive
him to eat freely, give him the lefs Ants, S?<r.
in bis Meat, and at laft, nothing but Sheep's
Heart and Egg. You ftioold take fome of
this Meat with you when you go tc catch
i^ightingaUSi and in an Hour or two after
they are taken, you muil force them to cat,
by opening their Mouth and craming them^
taking Care that their Meat be not too dry v
moiften it with fprinkling a little clean Water
upon it, as you prepare it. Remember when
you firft take a Bird to clear bis Vent froiB
Feathers, by pulling, or cutting them of^y o-
therwife he will be fubjeiS to clog and bak<
up his Vent, which is fudden Death. Birds
that are long a feeding, and make no Cur-
ring orSweeting for eight or ten Days, feldom
prove good j but on the contrary, they give
great Hopes of proving well when they take
their Meat kindly, and are familiar, and i
^uckiih} and fuig quickly, and leara co^ i
E35gin^^T!f(n^8iBnrss. '■^
of themfelves without much Trouble. This
is a fure Token of their proving excellent
Birds; when they will feed in a ievr Houre,
or the next D;iy after they are taken, and
fing in two or three Days ; thoie never prove
bad. You mull tie the Wings of the Bird
no longer than till he is grown tame.
i
Of the Red-Grosbeak.
the Virginia-Nightingale, called
likewifej the Red-Bifd.
'^he Dtfcriptkn and CharaEier4
IT is near as big as die ceHimon 5o;^-'
Tbrujh: The Balk of his Bill is encom-
paffed with a Border of black Feathers reach-*
rng to the Eyes : It hath a large Head adorned
with a high towering Creft, of a bright Scar-
let Colour, as is alfo the whole Bird, except,
the Back, fome Part of the Wings aad the
Tail, which are of a more dirty and brownilli
Red. Thefe Birds are brought from Vir^iniUj
New England, and other Parts of North A-
tnerica^ where they catch them as we ^ohAfki
in England, by fweepkig away the Snow, atid
baiting the Place with Virginia Wheat, ©V.
^^8 A Natural }\i ST o^X i
It hath an agreeable melodious Song,
fome Notes like the E/igliJb Ntg/jtiiigak^
iThc Hen is not ib beautiful as the Cock,!
ieing more brown, with a Tin(5tiire of red i
-Thefe ling when in Cages, as well as tha J
jCocks, and are brought over with them.
Its Strength with its Bill is furprizing,
being able to crack the Stones of Almonds,
Olives, and Indian Maiz, very expeditioufly,
the Kernels of which it is very fond of. In
England they bring it to fued upon Hemp,
or Canary-Seeds j it will eat alfo the IVosd'
Lark's, or Nightinga/e's Food. There aic
Ferfons with us that highly value thefe Birdj
which makes them fometimes fell at a gred
Price. I have heard of thofe that have at]
tempted to breed them in England, but mat
little of it. If your Bird ftiould be fick,
£pider or Meal-Worm will relieve him.
0/ the Yellow-Hartimer.
T^e Defcription and CharaSier. \
IT is equal to the Chaffinch in Bignefs : Bo3
Cock and Hen are beautiful Birds ; and' '
the Cock will fing very prettily, wher. in the
Fields, but is not kept very common in a
Cage i yet he is no contemptible Bird ; be-
' Hdes I
ft
J
« • 1 "l . ■
i ■ ■•-■ ■•
fides his Song, his fins Feathers are enough
?o recommend him ; A lovely Yellow adorns
his Head, Throat, Breaft, and Belly ; his
Back and Wings are pretty much like the
Linnel's. The Hen is of a paler Colouf all
over her Body, and the Parts that are of a
fine Yellow in the Cock, in the Hen are of a
dirty Green.
Thefe Birds build upon the Ground, at the
Side of a River, Pond, or Brook ; they make
a large flat, ordinary Neft; with Mofs, dry'd
Roots of Grafs, Weeds, &c. with Horfe Hair
intermixed ; more of the latter than I ever
obferved any other Bird to make ufe of. She
lays fix or feven white Eggs, veined and
fpotted with black. Her young Ones are
ufually fit to take by the Beginning oi May-
you may let them be ten or twelve Days old
before you take them. Feed them with Flefli
Meat minced very fine, as you prepare it for
other fmall Birds ; or you may bring them
up with the "Tit, or Wood-Lark's Meat ; they
■will eat likewife Worms cut in fmall Pieces,
which Food agrees very well with them.
Thefe Birds are common every where in
England ; for the moft Part, they abide on
the Ground, feeking their Food there, of
■VVorms, Seeds, and other Things.
1
to ^ /Natural History of
Of the Reed-Sparrow.
7^(8 Defeription and CharaSien
THIS Bird in Bigncfs is equal to thj
Chajincb: The Cock has a black H
^nd Throat : A Ring of White encomp;
the Neck : His Brcaft and Belly are wl
ipotted with reddifh-brown Spots : The Back
of a duiky Brown, with black Spots : The
Pinion of his Wing is of a redriifh Colour ;
the reft of llie Wing and Tail^ we of a dark
Brown : Tha Hen, as ia tnoft Bir^s, is not
fo fair coloured : The Ring about her N(
13 darker, and fcarce appearing, and
Head is not black Ukc the Cock's.
They frequent the Reeds by the Rivers"
Sides, where they breed, hanging their Nefts
between the Reeds ; they are chearfui, men
Birds, and: iJng finely. When we walk
Summer-Time by the Sides of the River,
nerally prefent us with- an agreeable Hari
ny. They are not kept very common
Cages, therefore 'tis not neceffary to d'
any longer upon tJiisBird. HerEggsin
lour are like the Hedge-Sparrow's.
not
/
-rtC*
f^figllfti Singing-Birds. 8i
Of the Hedge- Sparrow.
l^he Defcription and Chara&er*
HE is about the Size of the Robin-Red~
. Breafl ; has a pretty long (lencler Bill,
[ of a duflcy or blackifli Colour : The upper
Side of his Body is party-coloured, of Black,
and dirty Red; and his Breail of a Blue, or
Lead Colour : This Bird is as well known
as any of our fmaU Birds, being found al-
mo(l in every Bufh, that hardly a Boy that
fearchcs the Hedges, but can give an Ac-
count of its Kcft, Kggs, ©*£■. therefore would
fceni unnecefTary for me to take any Notice
of it, but that I think the Hedge-Sparrow
too much neglefled ; no Bird is more dc-
fpifed ; I am fure he ought to be more va-
lued ; he is a very pleafant Song-Bird, iings
iweetly, and has a great Variety of pretty
Notes : I have known them kept in Cages by
fome curious Perfons, and much valued for
their fine Singing ; a great many People cage
worfe, and account them good Birds : 'Tis
Plenty that leflens the Worth of this Bird,
as of every Thing elfe, though ever fo valu-
able in itfelf. The Hen is known from thc|
Cock, by a fainter Breaft, and being of
brighter Colour on the Back.
M Og
^2 \^ Natural History of
Cy tieir Building ^ dCc. ^hetr Toung^
and how to order them.
THESE Birds, as I fald beford, build
their Neft almoft in every Hedge,
low, and open, that it maybe found \i^
little Difficulty. It confifls chiefly of fine
green Mols, platted with a little Wool and
Hair j 'tis not of fo curfous a Model as fbme
are. The Hen lays commonly five Eggs, of
a fine pale Blue, or Sea -Gre^n Colour. She
has young Ones at the End of April ox Be-
ginning of May : Take them at nine or ten
Days old, and feed them with Bread and
Flefti'Mcat, chop'd very fine, and mixed to-
gether, made moil):, as for other Birds : Or
you may bring them up with the fFood-'Lark'%
Viduals.
If the Cock is brought up under fome fine
Song-Bird, he will take his Song, and anfwer
your Expeftation.
g/
fEnglilh Singing-Birds. 8j
Of the Aberdivine.
^he Defcription and CharaSier.
1 N Size and Colour, it is pretty much like
■*■ the Canary-Bird, only ihe Cock has a
black Spot upon his Head, and a little Black
under his Throat. The Htn is more upon
the Grey, and has a fpotted Brealt and Belly.
They are lively, merry Birds, and fing very
prettily, and are frequently kept in Cages.
Thefe ; irds do not breed any where in
England that ever I heard of, but fliift Places
according to the Seafon of the Year; they
vifit our Farts in the Winter-Time, and leave
us in the Spring. They frequent the Alder-
Trees, i^c by the River-Side ; The Bird-
catchers take them up as they do hinneti^ Gold-
Jinches, &c, and feed them like thole Birds.
It is of a very mild Nature, and not at all
crafty, fo that it is ealily taken by any Kind
of Engine or Deceit.
Mr. fVilhugbby calls it Si/ki'/i. li, Is, fays
he, kept in Cages for its Singing, and is com-
mon in Germany and England. At Vtennain
Aufiria, they call it Seijci, a Name not much
different from our Englijh Sijkin. In Suffex
it is known by the Name oi Barley-Bird, fo
called, becaule it comes to them in Barley-
Seed Time.
M 2
n ivaturai History of
Of the Canary-Bird.
7he Defcriptim and CharaEler.
ft
I HIS Bird has its Name from Canan
-*■ an JJland of the Adantick Sea ; one
thofe which the Ancients, for the excellei.
Temperature of the Air, called Fortunate ,
all thofe IJliindi which they fo named, being
now called the Canaries :_ From whence thefc _
Birds were firft brought into Europe, arAm
from no other Place : But now they are brcd^
in Germany, France, and England; and each
«f thofe Countries have improved the Breed;
for what are there produced, exceed thefiirds
brought from their original, natural Climate,
both in Beauty and Song; among which,
the EnglfJl-hTcd Birds are not inferior to
beft, being of a more hardy Nature,
better for Breeding than thofe of any oi
■Country, and as good in Song,
The Cock of this Kind hath a very fwei.
and fiirill Note, which, at one Breath, con-
tinued a long Time without Intermiffion,
can draw out fometimes in Length, fomi
times raife very high, by a various, and a
moft mufical Inflexion of its Voice, makin]
Tery pleafant and artificial Melody,
^he Marks oj the Cock and Hen.
THE Fore-part of his Head, his Throat,
Pinion of the Wing, and Rump, are
of a brighter Yellow than in the Hen : Which
Marks will hold good, let the Birds be of
what Sort they will ; they always have a
little Yellow above their Bills, under their
Throats, &c. of a ilrong deep Vellow in the
Cock ; in the Hen of a much paler Colour-
There is a Difference likewife in their Vents ;
it" you blow the Feathers in both, you may
perceive his to appear longer tharf that oftUe
Hen's.
Another Mark of a Male Bird is his Size ;
the biggeft and longeft bodied Bird feldom
fails of proving a Cock ; efpecially if his
Gerture and Carriage be fprightly and ma-
jeftick; and if he often ejrtendsiiis Neck and
Head with Life and Vigour, then you may
depend upon its being a Cock-Bird. Belides
all this, you may know him by his fineSing-
tQg, in which yoii can't well be deceived, for
the Hens do not ling, orfo indiftcrently, that
'tis not dcferving of the N^me of a Song ;
and whenever the Cock iings, if you obfervc
his Throat, you will fee it fwell and play aU
the Time he is warbling out his pretty Notes.
But let the Hen fing either well or ill, this
Motion is never obfervedin her Throat. This
one Note will be fuflicient to direft you to
choofc
p6 A Natural HiSTOtr of
chcofe a Cock-Bird at all Times ; when yoM
will find, for the Generality, all the otl
Marks to correlpond likewile.
DireBiensforchooftngaCsinsLvy-^iTd, J j
andto know if hs be in Health.
'np H E moft beautiful feathered Birds a
■*■ of a bright lovely Ycilo"*, with Jct^
Black Spots. The next is the Mea/y-BirJ, fo
named from the mealy Kind of Colour which
feenis to cover his Feathers. The third Sort
ate called Motikd-B'irdi ; their chief Colour
is white, mottled with black or brownilh_
Spots. Befidcs thci'e, fome are all yellon
others all white, and fome grey, ^c. Th<
laft, for Colour, are the leall valued,
often prove as good in Song, as the fineft
feathered of them a!! : The Choice of a good
Bird not depending in the leaft on the Co-
lour, that being nicrclv tancy.
For Health, take a Bird that appears witl
Life and Boldncfs, itanding like a Sparrow-
Hawk, not fubjed to be fcnred at every
Thing that ftirs: Therefore when you ob-
ferve him, approach not too near the Cage,
left by a Motion of the Hand, or other wife, ■
youdifturb him. 1 will make the Bird, tho'.
not well, appear fprightly, and in Health f
a little Time; but If you fland quiet, ai
r Diliance, you may foon difcovci
whethei
wnJlh ,
rhdH
, buH
'^neft ''
ood
'4
'■•• . ,
■^ Englifh Singing-Birds. 87
whether it is the EfFed: of Fear, or the na--
tural Spirit of the Bird : If he ftands up bold-
ly, without crouching cr fhrinking his Fea-
thers: If his Eyes look chearful, and not
drowfy, thty are goo J Signs of a healthful
Bird: But on the contrary, if he be apt to
clap his Head under his Wing, and iland all
of an Heap, you may be fure he is not well.
Obfcrve hkewiie his Dung ; which when
he is in perfe<ft Health, will be round and
hard, with a fine white on the Outfide, and
dark within, and will quickly be dry. If he
bolts his Tail like a Nightins^ale after he hath
tlung'd ; or if his Duug be very thin, or of
a flimy White, with no Blacknefs in it, you
may conclude he is a fick Bird.
The next Thing we are to regard in choof-
jng a Canary-Bird, is the Goodnefs of his
Song. Some of thefe Birds will open with
the Sweet of the Nigbthigak, and run through
leveral of that Bird's fine Notes, and end in
the Tit-Lark's Song; andfome will fmgonly
the Tti-Lark's. Others will begin alnioft
like a Sky-Lark^ and by a foft, melodious
Turn of the Voice, fall into the Nighinga/es
Sweet and Jug, whiiking and chewing alter
a very delightful Manner. The Birds that
have fuch a curious Change of harmonious
Notes, want no Recommendations, every
Body muft be fenfible that they are valu-
able. There are others of this Kind, tha
ea ^i jLVUTurat ni^iuKi
fing with (o much Force, that even deafe
the Ears of the Hearers with their Shrilnels
Many Perfons are delighted witii this Kint
of Singing, others are offended at it. Theie
fore, before you purchafe the Bird, hear hin
fing in a fingle Cage ; and as you have DI
reitions to know a Cock-Bird, and when h(
is in Health, as to the Colour and Song
Ipleafe your own Fancy.
To order them in Breeding, Sec.
CANJRT-BIRDS that are kept tam
will breed three or four Times in tfc
Year : They ufually begin in Ap}'il, and brec
in May and Jum, fonaetimes in July or Ai
gu/i. There are many People in England, !
well as in France, Germany, &c. that get
good Livelihood by breeding Canary-Birds
befides a great Number of Perfons whici
breed them only for Pleafure.
Whether for Pleafure or Profit, make ufe
of fuch Birds for Breeders, as were produced
between the Englip^ and French, which are
rtrong healthful Birds, and breed the beft of
any. But let them be of what Sort they will,
be fure to choofe ftout Birds. If the Cock oC;
Hen be very fmall, match either one or tl
other with a larger, as a fmaii yellow Sorl
with a large mealy one, ^c. which wM
ftrengthen me Breed.
Towar<
Towards the Middle of March, begin to
match your Birds, putting one Cock and one
Hen in a fmall Cage : And when they have
been fo long together, that they are perfeiftly
reconciled, and well pleafed with each other,
towards the End of March, or Beginning of
April, put them into the Breeding Cage,
made for that Ufe ; let it be as big a-
gain as what we commonly call breeding
Cages, that the Birds may have the more
Room to fly and exercife themfelves. Let
there be two Boxes in the Cage for the Here
to build in, becaufe Ihewill fometimeshatch
a fecond Brood before the firftarefit to fly,
leaving the Care of them to the Cock to feed
and bring them up, whilft fhe breeds in the
other Box; therefore, ifihehas not a fparc
Box to build in, will be apt to make her
Neft upon the Birds, as it fometimes happens,
and fmother them, or build fo near that they
will ^poil one another. Whilft your Birds are
a pairing, feed them with foft Meat j Egg,
Bread, Maw~Seed, and a Httle fcalded Rape-
Seed, hardly a third Part of Egg; this laft,
and the Bread grated fine, and fo mix it all
together : Whi^n theyhave young Ones, gire,
the fame foft Vidtuals, frefli every Day, and
let them have frefli Greens likewife ; fuch as
Cabbage-Lettice now and then ; but give
them more conflantly, Chick-Wccd witli
Seeds upon it; towards y««P, Shepiierd's
N Purfe
^»ipc A lyaturai History tf ^
Purfe ; in "July and Auguft, Plantain ; and
before they have young Ones, give them
Groundfel with Seed upon it. I would re-
commend to fiich Pertbns as breed only a
few Birds for their Diverfion, to ufe thefe
large Cages, it being much the heft Way:
iJiit thole that intend to breed a Number,
iTiouId prepare a Room for that Purpofe.
Let the Situation of it be fuch, that the
Birds may enjoy the Benefit of the Morning
Sun, which is both delightful and nourifti-
ing; and let Wire, inftead of Ghfs, be at
the Windows, that they may have the Ad-
vantage of the Air, which wiH add to their
Health, and make them thrive the better:
Keep the Floor of tlie Room clean, fome-
times fifting fine dry Gravel or Sand upon it,
and often removing the Dung and other foul
Stuff. You murt take Care to fix Neft-Boxes,
and Back-Cages, in every convenient Corner
and Place of the Room, at leaf!:, twice the
Number that vou have Birds, that they may
have the more Variety to chufe a Lodging to
their Minds j for fome love to build high, and
fome very low, fome in a light Place, and o-
ihets will chufe a dark Place to build in.
There ought to be two Windows in the
■ Room, one at each End, and feveral Perches
;,t proper Dift^inces for the Birds to fettle
^^ upon, as they fly backwards and forwards. .
^^^ You may fet Hkewife a Tree in fome conve-
uieai
J
^s^
^':
/^f
t /
' •' .-' ■
« ■
r1.*
•m i • ' ' .
>i- ^
•s^'-'-*
'•^h
,'^- .A
1. *C[-iUm-
* *■ 'SJWH) »
N
*
••»•.
• ■ • ••:■
.\
• V 1*^-. i ,^v
■^ Englilh Singing-Birds. 91
Bient Placeof the Room ; it will divert tbr
Birds, and fome of them will like to build ;aj
it; You muft obferve that their Nefl isfecure
from falling through, and if in Danger, to
tie the Tree clofer to prevent it, and they
will hatch there as well as in any other Place.
Remember, not to put too many Birds toge-
ther, eight or ten Pair are enough for a mid
dling Room.
When your Birds are firft paired, as I dl
reded before) turn them into this Room j
where they will live, as it were, a conjugal
Life i and nolwithftanding there are leveral
Male and Female Birds in the fame Room,
one Cock and one Hen, as ihey firft coupled
together, will keep conlknt to each other,
and both concur and aflift in fitting and feed-
ing their Young: For the Cock-Bird takes
his Turn in building the Neft, fitting upon
the Eggs, and feeding the Young, as well
as the Hen.
Of their Nefiy and how to order the
Young.
YO U mull furniih the Birds with Stuff
for making their Nell; ilich as fine
Hay, Wool, Cocton, and Elk's Hair, if it
can be got : Let all thefe Materials be tho-
roughly dry J then mix and tie them up to-
N 2 . gethcr
ii
jfi lyazurai nisroRr oj ^
^gether in a Net, or fome fuch Thing, fo that
the Birds may eafily pull it out as they want
it; and let it be hung in a proper Place in
jtlie Room for that Purpofe.
They build a pretty Neft, about which
they will fometimes be fo induftrious, as to
begin and finifli it in one Day, though they
are generally two or three Days in making
their Neft. The Hen lays commonly four
or five Eggs; and fits fourteen Days.
When the Young are hatched, leave them
to the Care of the old Ones to nurfe and
bring up, till they can fly and feed them-
felves. The Hen, as I faid before, by reafon
pf their Ranknefs, in being kept together,
3nd provided with all Things neceifary at
Hand, without any Trouble in feeking their
Food, tSc. will fometimes build, and hatch
again before the firft can fliift for themfelves j
the Care of which, ihe transfers to the Cock-
Bird, who will feed and nurfe them himfelf,
fupplying that of both Parents, while flie
brings on and attends her new Progeny. But
'tis not fo with thofe Birds that live at large
in the Fields. They obferve their Seafons for
Breeding, and after they have hatch'd, com-
pany with their Brood, till their Young are
grown up, and able to provide for themfelves.
When the young Canary-Birds can f«*e4
I themfelves, take them from the old Ones,
j^ndcase thtm. If they are flying about the
J
■" EngUih SINGING^BIUDS,
Room, to catch them bring a fpare Cage with
fome foft Victuals in it, taking the other Meat
that's in the Room away, placing the Cage
there in its Stead, with the Door open, and a
String faftened thereto: Then Hand at a Di-
ftance, and the old Ones will prefently, for
the SaJie of the Meat, intice the yoimg Ones
into the Cage ; then pull the String and (hut
in one, two, or as many as you can; the Old
you let fly, the Young cage: This do till you
have caught as many as you want.
Let their Meat be the Yelk of an Egg hard
boil'd, with as much of the befl Bread, and a
little fcalded Rape-Seed : When it is boiled
foft, bruife the Seed fine, and put a little Maw-
Seed among it, andmlx it alltogether, andgive
them a fufficient Quantity frefh every Day;
never let it be ftale or four. Befides this, give
them a little fcalded Rape-Seed, and a little
Rape and Canary by itfelf. You may keep
them to this Diet till they have done moult-«
ing ; and afterwards feed them as you do the
old Ones, taking away their foft Meat, unlcfs
at any Time they are fick, then continue it.
0/ the Canary-Bird's Difeafes, and
their Cure.
BESIDES their Moulting, which is com-
mon to all Birds, they are fubje^ to the
/ollowing Difordcrs. The firil Is a Surfeit,
occafione4
94 -^ Natural History of
occafioned either by a violent Cold, or from
eating too greedily upon Greens, efpedally a
rank Sort of Chick- Weed with broad Leaves,
and without Seeds, which is hurtful both to
old and young Birds, it being very apt to fur-
feit the latter. To difcover when the Bird
has this Diftemper, blow the Feathers on the
Belly, and you will perceive it fwell'd, tranf-
parent, full of little red Veins, all their little
Bowels finking down tg the extream Parts of
its Body, and if far gone, black, which ge-
neially brings Death. The Cure of this Dif-
cafe, if taken in Time, is to keep him warm,
and give him whole Oatmeal amongft his Seed
for three or four Days, in order to cleanfe
him; and put Liquorice in his Water; but if
he is too loofe, inftead of Oatmeal, give him
Maw and bruifed Hemp-Seed, being more
binding; and at the fame Time let him have
a little yafFron in his Water; or you may boil
Milk and Bread, with a little Maw-Seed in
it ; 'tis very good for the Bird at fuch a Time.
Or you may take Millet, Hemp, Maw, Rape
and Canary-Seeds, of each as much as will
lay upon a Sixpence ; let thcfe juft boil up,
rinfc them in cold Water, to cool them ; then
boil a new-laid Egg hard, mince it fmall,
both Yelk and White together; take about a
(^larter of it and put it to the Seeds, and add
as much more Lettice-Seed as any of the other :
'jj^ve tiys Meat to the fick Eird^ it has hacj
good
In^lifti Singing-Birds; ^^"
tood EtFed on many. But before you give
him this, in the Morning early bt your Bird,
drink two or three Times Water, in which
you have put about the Quantity of two Peas
of Treacle; and when you have obferved him.
to drink two or three Times, take it away,
and give him clean Water again; repeat thiSf-
three or four Mornings before you give him,
the above-mentioned Compoiition.
Another Malzdy the Canary-Bird is trou-*
bled with, is a littlePirapIe onhisRump.called
the Pip ; it will generally go away of itfelf,,
but if at any Time it is bad and will not,.,
when it Is ripe, let out the fickly Matter with;
the Point of a fine Needle, fqueeze it all out
with as much Gentlcnefs as you can ; after
take a Bit of Loaf-Sugar moiften'd in youi
Mouth, put it on the Sore, will heal it.
A third Difeafe is a Kind of yellow Scabj
that come about their Head and Eyes, which
fometlmes fwell and are full of Matter ; a--
noint thofe Places witli frefll Butter or Lard;
or the Oil of fweet Almonds; thofe Things
I will cure it, unlefs it fpread, then nothing;
ijjut Time and cooling Food will carry it off".
I The lart Thing that 1 fliall take Notice ol
is his Moulting. You may know when thii
comes on by the Bird's appearing rough, me
lancholy, and often fleeping in the Day wit]
Isis Head under his Wings ; and the Cage cm
vered with Down and fmall Feathers; fort]
young Ones, the hrft Year, caft only their
Down and fmall Feathers, and the lecond,
their Tail and Wing- Feathers.
Careful Nurfing is the principal Means to
preferve Birds under this natural Malady;
therefore be fure to keep him warm ; fet him
fometimes in the Sun when it fhines power-
fully to baik himfelf, it will comfort him
very much, always taking care to keep hinv
from Cold or Win;^, which are very prejudi-
cial to him: at fuch a Time ; let him have
good nourifhlng Food ; Naples-Bifket, Bread
and Egg mixed together ; and put Saffron in
his Water; likewife bruifed Hemp-Seed,
mixed with Lettice and Maw-Seed. If the
Weather is very hot when the Birds are in
their Moult, give them Liquorice in their
Water inftead of Saffron, and their Meat Plan-
tain and Lettice-Seed ; but not any of that
Meat if it be cold 'Weather. P.emember,
whenever Egg is prefcribed for any fick Birds,
it is to be boiled and chop'd, or grated very
fine; Hemp-Seed to be ground or bruifed (
and Rape or Canary-Seed fcalded and bruifed.
Theic Things, with good Attendance, will
at all Times contribute very much to the Re-
lief of fick Birds. And whatever elfeisde-
liveredin this Treatife concerning the Na-*
ture, Song, Marks of Male and Female,
Building, Breeding, Feeding- Gff. of BirdsJ-
it being founded upon Experience, will upoiy
r T/ial anfwer likewife. INDEX
^
J
I N D E
ABERDEVINE, Defcription and Charafler, %a
8j
B L AC K- B I RD, Defcription and Charaacr i
Marks of the Cock and Hen 2
Their Building, Eggs, &c. 3
Of their Young, and how to order them 4
Their Difeales and Cure 5
BULLFINCH, Defcription and Charaaer 15
Their Food when wild ■ ibid^,
Marks of the Cock and Hen 16
Their Neft, Eggs, &c. 17
To feed and bring up the Young ibid,
CANARY-BIRD, Defcription and Charaaer 84
Marks of the Cock and Hen 85
D reftions for choofing a good Bird 86
To kn w if it be in Health ibid.
The Difference of their Song 87
To order them in Breeding 88
When to match your Birds 89
How to prepaVe a Cage for Breeding ibidl
Or to fit a Room f )r the fame Purpofe ^ 90
"What Siufr to furnifn ih^m with for theiWiefl 91
To order the Yuujig g2
Their Difcafes and Cure 93
CHAFFINCH, D . fcription and Charafter 25
The cruel Cullom of blindmg thcfe Birds condemn'd
ibid.
26
2
ibid.
iS
Marks of the Cr>ck and Hen
Of their Nefl, Ergs, &c.
To order the Youn^
How to t^ke Branchers
GOLDFINCH, Defcription and Charaaer
Its mild and eentle Nature
Q
l
It«.
INDEX.
Its great Docilitv in learning to draw Water 20
The Age of this Bird . ibid.
Marks (/f the Cock and Hen 21
Time and Manner of building their Neft ibid.
To ordei the Young 22
rjifeafes and Cure 24
rime and SeHfons for catching Goldfinches ibid.
GREENFINCH, or Green-Bird^ Defcription and
Cliaradtcr 29
Marks of the Cock and Hen ibid.
Or their Neil", Ki<'j:^>, cfh ; 30
Of thtir Young, ^V. " 31
IlEDGE-hPARROW, Defcription and Charaaer 8r
Of their Uuilding, Young, ^c, 82
LINNET, Defcription and Chnra£ler 3 1
Marks of the Cock and Hen. ■ 32
Time and Manner of buiidina: their Neft ibid.
Hov/ to briny up the Young 33
Their Difeafes and Cure 34
Hov to ca'ch, ;md order thefe Birds 36
NIGHTINGALF, Defcription and Charadcr 67
Marks of rhe Coek a .d [Un 68
Of ihcir Nelf, wit'i Ki.'c6iior»s for finding it 69
How to bring; up rhe Yi u ig 70
"i he*ir J^ifeaics a d Cu''. ^r
The Sv^afoiis, anj Vc riou^ Ways of taking Nightingales
74
To order them when takc."» 75
RED-GKOSBEAF:, l>cripM-nardCharaaer 77
RED-POLf-, D.K ri.;ti(>n aih. Character 60
RED-S^\\!rr, Dekriptiv.n and Characler 62
Their Bj'ceJino;, bfc. ibid.
Of I'le llKiniu' doL^l!;cd Temper of this Bird 63
RE El) SPARROW, Delciiption aod Character So
R(JIiiN-RKD iJivEAS \\ Defcription and Character 55
lis Maniv r of fce'iitip^ when wild 56
Mark.> of the Cock and lien ibid.
Time and iVTanaer of making their Nefl, Colour of
th'w'ir Eggs, i?V, • 57
When
/
INDEX.
When to take, and to bring up the Young 57
Their Difcifes and Cure ' 55
How to take old Ones, ^c. 59
SKY- LARK, D.fcnpiion and Charafter 38
Marks of the Cock and Hen 39
Time and Manner of Building, Iffc, 40
Of the You .g, how to order ihem, l^c. 41
Their Diftafes a;:d Cure 43
To take Pu(hcrs ibid.
To take Brancl-ers 45
S TA R i J N G, D^fcription and Chnraflcr 1 1
Mark* of the Cock and Hen ibid.
Their Building, Kggs, ^c. 12
To order the Young, ^c, 13
Difca'es and Cure 14
THRUSFl, Defcription and Charafler . 5
The different Kinds of ThruJ}je5\ their Defcription
and Charaflers 6
Marks of 'he Cock and Hen 7
OftheirNeft, Eggs,fcfi:. 8
Of their Young, and how to order them lO
TI T-L ARK, Defcription and Charader 53
Marks of the Cock and Hen 54
Of their Ned, Eggs, ^'5ft\ ibid.
TWITE, Defcription and Charaflcr 37
WOODLARK, Defcription and CharaSer 46
M;rks of the Cock and Hen 47
Of their Nett, Eggs, ^c. 4«
How to order the Young 49
The SeafoMs for catching thefe Birds, and to order
. them when taken ' 50
WREN, Defcription and Chara<Ser 64
Marks of the Cock and Hen 65
Of the'.r Neft, Eggs, If^c. ibid.
To order the Young, i5c, ^ 66
YELLOW-HAMMER, Defcription and Charafter 78
Of their Neft, Eggs, (^c. ' ^ 79
FINIS.
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II. The Young Clerk's Amftant : pr, Pen-
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Being a compkat Pocket Copy-Book for the Prac-
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I
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