The book of cage birds

THE LIBRARY

OF

THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA

PRESENTED BY

PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND
MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID

THE

BOOK

O F

CAGE BIRDS,

BY HENRY B. HIRST.

THIRD EDITION.

PHILADELPHIA:
BERNARD DUKE, 117 CHESTNUT STREET.

1843.

Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1842, by
BERNARD DUKE, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the
Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

E. G. Dorsey, Printer,
Library Street.

IN TOKEN

RESPECT FOR HIS VARIED TALENTS,
HIS SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE,

AMD

HIS CHARACTER AS A MAN,
THIS BOOK IS INSCRIBED

TO

JOHN CASSIN,
BY HIS FRIEND

THE AUTHOR.

M3G8449

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE following work the publisher pre-
sents to the public with feelings of consi-
derable gratification. That the want of a
good publication of this description has
long been severely felt, he is well aware
from the many enquiries at his esta-
blishment. Upon discovering this, he
immediately took measures to ensure the
production of a complete and practical
treatise on the various birds which are to
be found, singly and collectively, in an
American Aviary. The book is written
by a gentleman well known as one of
the best practical Ornithologists of the
day. This fact must give to the direc-
tions on its pages the fullest credit and
reliance. The portion devoted to the
1

6

Canary-bird (Fringilla serinus) is the most
perfect description of its character and
habits ever published; while the remainder
displays the most correct judgment and
scientific knowledge. The expense of
getting it up has been very heavy; but it
is intended as an earnest that every thing
which is produced at the publisher's esta-
blishment shall be of a sterling character.
In the close of the volume will be found
a catalogue of the various articles adapted
to the rearing and keeping of Canary
and other Song-birds, all of which are of
selected quality, or of the finest materials.
The greatest pains will always be taken
to preserve a full and complete assortment
of every thing in this and every other line
of the business, in order that the publisher
may merit that confidence which has
already been so liberally bestowed upon
him.

BERNARD DUKE.
Philadelphia, 1842.

CONTEiNTS.

BOOK I.

GRANIVOROUS BIRDS. — Order GRANI YORES.
CHAPTER I.— General Characteristics of Granivorous
Birds PAGE 13

DIVISION I.

FOREIGN BIRDS.

PART I.

FINCHES. — Fringilla.
CHAP. I.— General Characteristics of the Finch Tribe. 16

CHAP. II. — CANARY-BIRD. — Fringilla serinus.

SECTION I.— Of the Peculiar Characteristics of the Ca-
nary Finch 19

SECT. II. — Of the most suitable season for pairing Cana-
ries, and the best situations for breeding them. . . 26

SECT. III. — Of the mode of pairing, and the proper means
to procure handsome coloured Birds 30

SECT. IV. — On the materials for building and the best
nests to be procured. 33

SECT. V. — Of the most proper food for, and directions for
feeding Canaries in the breeding season. . . .36

SECT. VI. — Directions for making the German Paste, and
for rearing the young by hand 45

SECT. VII.— On the distinguishing characteristics of the
sexes in Canaries 57

8 CONTENTS.

SECT. VIII. — On the teaching Canaries an artificial sys-
tem of song 61

SECT. IX. — On the necessary treatment for sullen and
savage male-birds 65

SECT. X. — General remarks upon breeding birds. . . 77

SECT. XL— On the most prevalent diseases which attack
Canaries, and the modes of prevention and cure. . . 85

SECT. XII. — On the various methods of the breeding
"mule-birds," and their general management. . . 98

CHAP. III. — DOMINICAN GROSBEAK. — Fringilla cardina-
lis 108

CHAP. IV.— "\VHIDAH-BIRD.— Fringilla whida. . .110
CHAP. V.— JAVA SPARROW.— Fringilla . . . .113

CHAP. VI.— WHITE-HEADED GROSBEAK.— Fringilla leuco-
ceyhala 115

CHAP. VII. — AVERDIVINE. — Fringilla aver -divina. . . 116

CHAP. VIII. — ENGLISH GREY OR BROWN LINNET. — Frin-
gilla linaria 117

CHAP. IX. — ENGLISH GREEN-FINCH, OR GREEN LINNET. —
Fringilla Moris 119

CHAP. X. — ENGLISH GOLD-FINCH. — Fringilla carduelis. . 121

PART II.

LARKS. — Alauda.
CHAP. I. — ENGLISH SKY-LARK. — Alauda arvensis. . . 123

CHAP. II. — ENGLISH WOOD-LARK. — Alauda arborea. . 126

PART III.

BULL-FINCHES. — Pyrrhula.
CHAP. I. — BULL-FINCH. — Pyrrhula vulgaris. . . .128

CONTENTS. 9

DIVISION II.

NATIVE BIRDS.

PART I.

TANAGERS. — Tanagree.

CHAP. I.— SCARLET TANAGER, OR BLACK-WINGED SUMMER
RED-BIRD. — Tanagra rubra 132

PART II.

FINCHES. — Fringilla.
CHAP. I.— INDIGO-BIRD, OR BLUE LINNET.— Fringilla

cyanea 135

CHAP. II.— PAINTED BUNTING, OR NONPAREIL.— Fringilla

ciris .139

CHAP. III.— SONG SPARROW. — Fringilla fasciata. . . 141
CHAP. IV.— YELLOW-BIRD, OR AMERICAN GOLD-FINCH. —

Fringilla tristis 145

PART III.

CARDINAL-BIRDS. — Cardinally

CHAP. I. — CARDINAL GROSBEAK, OR RED-BIRD. — Cardi-
nalis Virginianus 149

PART IV.

GROSBEAKS. — Coccothraitstes.

CHAP. I. — ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK.— Coccothraustef Lu-
dovicianus 155

PART V.

PURPLE FINCHES. — Erythrospizcc.

CHAP. I. — PURPLE FINCH, OR AMERICAN LINNET. — Ery-
throspiza purpurea. . 158

BOOK II.

OMNIVOROUS BIRDS. — Omnivores.

CHAP. I. — Of the general characteristics of Omnivorous
Birds 160

1*

IQ CONTENTS.

DIVISION I.

FOREIGN BIRDS.

PART I.

STARLINGS. — Sturni.
CHAP. I.— EUROPEAN STARLING.— Sturnus vulgaris. . 163

PART II.

ORIOLES. — Icterii.

CHAP. L— ICTERIC ORIOLE, OR TROUPIAL. GOLDEN-WING-
ED ORIOLE.— Icterus 166

PART III.

CROWS. — Corvi.
CHAP. I.— EUROPEAN JACK-DAW.— Corvus monedula. . 168

PART IV.

JAYS. — Garruli.
CHAP. I. — EUROPEAN JAY. — Garrulus glandarius. . .173

DIVISION II.

NATIVE BIRDS.

PART I.

AMERICAN STARLINGS. — SturnellcE.

CHAP. I.— AMERICAN STARLING, OR MEADOW-LARK.—
Sturnella Ludoviciana 177

PART II.

TROUPULS. — Icterii.

CHAP. I.— -BALTIMORE ORIOLE, OR GOLDEN ROBIN.— Ic-
terus Baltimorus 180

CHAP. II. — ORCHARD ORIOLE, OR HANGING-BIRD. — Icterus
spurius 184

CHAP. III. — RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. — Icterus pradato- •
rius. . 186

CONTENTS. 11

PART III.

RICE BIRDS.— Dolicfionices.

CHAP. I.— REED-BIRD, OR RICE BUNTING.— Dolichonyx
oryzivora. . 191

PART IV.

CROWS. — Corvi.
CHAP. I.— AMERICAN CROW.— Corvus Americanus. . . 197

PART V.

MA GPIES. — Pica.

CHAP. L— MAGPIE.— Pica melanokuca 199

PART VI.

JAYS.— Garruli.

CHAP. I.— BLUE JAY.— Garrulus cristatus. . . .202

BOOK III.

INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. — Insectivores.
CHAP. I. — On the general characteristics of Insectivo-
rous Birds x . . .205

DIVISION I.

FOREIGN BIRDS.

PART I.

THRUSHES. — Turdi.
CHAP. I. — EUROPEAN BLACKBIRD. — Turdus merula. . 208

CHAP. II. — EUROPEAN, OR ENGLISH THRUSH. — Tiirdus
musicus 210

CHAP. III.— MINOR-BIRD.— Turdus minor. . . .213

PART II.

WARBLERS. — Sylvia.
CHAP. L— ROBIN, OR RED-BREAST.— Sylvia, rubicola. . 215

PART III.

NIGHTINGALES. — Currucce.
CHAP. I. — ENGLISH NIGHTINGALE. — Curruca lusciana. . 218

12 CONTENTS.

DIVISION II.

NATIVE BIRDS.

PART I.

MOCKING-THRUSHES. — Mimi.
CHAP. I. — MOCKING-BIRD. — Mimus polyglollis. . . 229

CHAP. II. — BROWN, OR FERRUGINOUS THRUSH, OR THRASH-
ER.— Mimus ferrugineus. 247

CHAP. III.— CAT-BIRD.— Mimus feliv ox. . . . .249

PART II.

TRUE THRUSHES. — Turdi.
CHAP. I.— AMERICAN ROBIN.— Turdus migratorius. . 252

PART III.

BLUE-BIRDS.— Sialice.
CHAP. I.— BLUE-BIRD.— SmZm Wilsonii. . . . 255

Mode of carrying Birds to a distance 260

APPENDIX.
CHAP. I.— PARROT TRIBE.-- Psittaci 2G2

CHAP. II.— DOVES.— Columbce 269

CHAP. III.— PARTRIDGE.— Ortyx Virginiana. . . .273
CONCLUSION. . . . 277

PREFACE.

No apology for the production of a
work of this kind is necessary, and I give
none, except it be the book itself. Those
in whose bosoms the seeds of refinement,
sown by Education or Nature, have sprang
into stately and pleasant trees, will hail
the work as having supplied a void too
long existing. Those who despise, or
affect to despise, the little warblers on
whose habits and treatment it discourses,
will have a prejudice not to be easily
overcome; and one, moreover, which, de-
spising them as I do, I care not to ob-
literate.

Shakspeare decries "the man who hath
no music in his soul;" and any other
vigorous writer might make a very fine,
as well as just invective against him who
loves not the music of birds. So far as
my own observation has been extended, it
has satisfied me that he who listens not

14 PREFACE.

with delight to the melody of the feathered
race, has either been rendered a misan-
thrope by the villany of others, or is at
heart, himself, a villain. The best proof
of this is the delighted expression visible
upon the faces of children, as they linger
near the cages of their favourites and
drink in every note of their varied song.
And what man lives, who, as he passes by
the cottage of the humble labourer, and
observes the wicker habitation of the well
tended Canary suspended at the door,
does not form a favourable idea of the
taste of those who dwell within its walls.
And oh ! in the crowded cities, with the
hum of business and the rattle of wheels
sounding ever around, is it not pleasant to
the ear of the sick-man to hear the voice
of some lone bird, and fancy as the cool
breeze from the open window steals across
his feverish brow, that he is out again
among the green fields and pleasant val-
leys, where the tall trees shake their heads
in defiance of the winds, and the diamond-
gleaming streams run onward with one
continual murmur of joy. The dim light
that streams into his room seems free and
glorious, he imagines his humble apart-
ment by the wild greenwood, and the

PREFACE. 15

melancholy warbler is converted into the
many voiced choir of the forest.

This life is made up of crosses and
vexations; and he who can add one mite
to the pleasures of existence is a bene-
factor to the whole human race. It was
with the laudable ambition of being thus
considered, that induced me to prepare
the following little work for publication.
If it answer the end for which it is de-
signed, I shall feel myself amply repaid
for any trouble I may have undergone in
its compilation.

Independent of the pleasure arising from
the rearing of birds, the profit to the poor
man, and the ability which it gives him to
purchase many little luxuries, otherwise
far beyond his reach, is worthy of consi-
deration. I know one family, a very
worthy and honest one by the by, who,
from a little expenditure of labour on the
part of the females, and which only filled
up otherwise unoccupied time, have been
enabled to procure a small but very com-
plete library for their amusement and
instruction during the long winter even-
ings.

Grave and learned physicians may pro-
bably smile, when they learn that a chap-
ter of the work has been devoted to the

16 PREFACE.

treatment of the diseases incidental to
birds; but the fancier who has hitherto
seen his stock die off one by one, without
being able to alleviate their sufferings or
prevent their destruction, will be grateful
for the information conveyed. It is true,
we give no descriptions of post mortem
anatomical examinations, nor have we
records of the cases which we have ob-
served, being content that our readers
should take our ipse dixit for the facts we
state; but we have aimed to give informa-
tion fraught with common sense and to
the purpose.

THE AUTHOR.

BOOK I.

GRANIVOROUS BIRDS. — Order GRANIVORES.

CHAPTER I.

General Characteristics of Granivorous Birds.

IT will be proper to premise with a few
general remarks on the habits and charac-
teristics of this, the most numerous, as well
as one of the most beautiful orders of the
feathered tribe; particularly as the descrip-
tions of the different species will occupy
by far the greater portion of the ensuing
pages.

The granivorous birds live in pairs
during the nuptial season, and after that
period is terminated, assemble in flocks,
or groups, ready for the time of their au-
tumnal migration. Many species are very
hardy; others again so tender as to leave
the states on the approach of frost; while
others only migrate from the intense cold
2

14 GRANIVOROUS BIRDS.

of the polar regions, and remain with us
during the whole of the winter. Those of
the tender kind reside in this state a short
period; reaching us early in May, spending
with us only the season of song and incu-
bation, and then departing early in the
Autumn for the more congenial tempera-
ture of Mexico and the West India isles.
The food of this order consists princi-
pally of seeds and small grain, that are
always shelled before swallowing; but in
the time of incubation, entirely of insects
— a fare the easiest to be procured at that
period, since but few of the earlier and
rarer species of plants have then perfected
their seed-vessels. It is, besides, more
suitable for the sustenance and nourish-
ment of their tender and delicate young.
These would be unable at that immature
season to receive and retain nourishment
so harsh and difficult of digestion, though
at a later portion of their lives such food
is better suited to sustain existence. How-
ever, seeds of all kinds at all times will

GRANIVOROUS BIRDS. 15

answer for any of the tribe, when adult,
in a state of captivity. In the cage they
are readily kept to a great age, amply re-
paying by their melodious songs the at-
tention that they require. They are like-
wise highly susceptible of education; and
can readily be taught numbers of amusing
and extremely interesting tricks.

The moult of this order of birds occurs
in general twice a year; their plumage
always being the most beautiful in the
nuptial season, though it again changes in
the fall to the unostentatious livery of the
females. During the moulting season they
are always most delicate.

It will be readily seen that in breeding
birds in captivity, the nighest approach to
a state of nature will be the most benefi-
cial for their nurture, and the production
of strong and vigorous young; but of this
more hereafter in its proper place.

DIVISION I.

FOREIGN BIRDS.

PART I.
FINCHES. — Fringillse.

CHAPTER I.

General Characteristics of the Finch Tribe.

OF all the tribes of birds, none, with the
exception of the Gallinaceous and the
Pigeon order, associate more familiarly
and freely with man in a state of nature,
and none that evince such docility and
such rationality in a state of confinement,
as those we now notice. The Finches
generally, are either remarkable for their
neatness or beauty of plumage, and de-
lightful and varied powers of song. Their
variation of feather as regards the sexes

FINCH TRIBE. 17

is very slight, in many instances the male
and female being the same in appearance,
or only differing in the breeding season;
while the young of most species imme-
diately resemble the adult, or acquire the
perfect plumage in the second year.

Of all the varieties of birds they are the
most prolific, rearing several broods a
year; and in fact increase so rapidly, that
even accident, Hawks, or the shot-gun of
the juvenile sportsmen in the neighbour-
hood of the large cities and towns can
create no perceptible diminution. In the
country, in the vicinity of farm-houses,
they are always protected from pursuit
by their social and semi-domestic habits;
while the farmer's cottage is very often
ornamented with cages, containing the
species most celebrated for song. Their
habits are solitary in the time of incuba-
tion; but after that period they associate
together and migrate in bands of considera-
ble numbers. They are generally very
hardy, and many species, like the Snow-

18 FINCH TRIBE.

bird (F. hyemalis), capable of enduring the
utmost severity of cold.

Their song is loud and vigorous, and in
many instances of a very superior charac-
ter; consisting of the most beautiful pas-
sages, and frequently rising in such de-
lightful trills as to excite the intensest
admiration in the listener. They are also
very capable of receiving tuition, and will
readily perform various feats worthy of the
greatest applause. In a state of confine-
ment they are pleasant companions, and
may be kept to a great age, frequently
twenty years, without difficulty; owing to
'their peculiar food and their great habits
of cleanliness.

19

CHAPTER II.

CANARY-BIRD. — Fringilla serinus.

SECTION I. — Of the Peculiar Characteristics
of the Canary Finch.

THE Canary, generally pronounced deli-
cate, and often made so by improper
treatment and want of attention, is in
reality the hardiest of cage-birds. In the
houses of our citizens it is always kept in
the warmest rooms, where the artificial
atmosphere gradually produces enervation
of form and ultimate destruction of life.
This results from the high esteem in which
this favourite is held, and with considera-
ble force recalls to my mind the old adage
of "killing with kindness." A different
treatment would be adopted, did the lady
or gentleman fancier know how much
stronger such a course would make their
favourite, in body and song.

The system I should recommend would

20 CANARY-BIRD.

be to suspend their cages in a constantly
unheated room, where the temperature
would approximate to that of the outer
atmosphere, exposing them to the sun and
air. This of course should only be done
on moderate days; not when the air is but
a few degrees above zero. Rainy seasons
should likewise be avoided, though cloudy
skies are not always to be deprecated as
injurious.

The Canary-bird is esteemed by all
ages, ranks and conditions; and it seems
scarcely necessary for me to point out its
excellent qualities. Yet, I will venture
upon the task. I may leave the sweetness
of its song unnoticed, that being well
known and appreciated by my readers.
The time of singing continues throughout
the whole year, with the exception of the
moulting seasons, which occur in spring
and autumn, and even then, in strong and
healthy birds, their melody is given with-
out intermission. Their plumage, another
characteristic, is varied and beautiful; con-

CANARY-BIRD. 91

sisting of nearly a dozen distinct colours,
all of which are of the richest and most
gorgeous description, and upon which is
founded the various and singular names in
vogue among the different bird-fanciers.
Their great and almost wonderful aptitude
of acquiring knowledge is likewise display-
ed by the ease with which they perform
numerous and astonishing tricks; their
ability to articulate words clearly and
correctly is nearly or quite equal to that
of the Parrot (Psittacus), and their docility
and attachment toward those who have
them in charge is of the highest order,
and worthy the greatest admiration.

Among the most striking exhibitions of
their wonderful qualities, the most curious
was one given in London, by a French-
man, named Le Sieur Roman, who publicly
exhibited eight well educated, and I think
I may say without flattery, very talented
Canaries. One of these pretended death,
and was passed around to the company,
by his ingenious owner, without displaying

22 CANARY-BIRD.

the slightest sign of life. A second was
an expert and excellent balancer, perform-
ing evolutions while standing upon his
head with his claws elevated. A third
imitated the peculiar action of a milk-
maid, going and returning from market,
bearing a small milk-pail upon his shoulder.
A fourth mimicked a Venetian demoiselle,
looking from the window and nodding to
the bystanders, in a manner exceedingly
piquante and amusing. A fifth appeared
as a soldier, with a minute musket, and
mounted guard, in the character of a sen-
tinel. The sixth was likewise a soldier,
and sustained the character of a can-
nonier, wearing a military cap on his head,
bearing a fire-lock on his shoulder, arid
concluding his portion of the performance
by taking a match and discharging a little
cannon. The same bird, at another time,
fell as if wounded by a shot from the ene-
my; suffered itself to be placed in a little
wheel-barrow by its companions and taken
to the hospital; and from thence took wing

CANARY-BIRD. 23

and flew away before the spectators. A
seventh gracefully turned a small wind-
mill; and the eighth bird stood amidst a
display of various kinds of fireworks with-
out betraying the slightest signs of fear.

A second exhibition of this kind, more
curious from the greater number of the
performers, took place in London during
the year 1820. The ingenious artist and
owner was a Monsieur Dijon. The ex-
hibited troupe consisted of twenty-four Ca-
naries, who all performed numerous feats.
One of these represented a company of
soldiers. They had a small camp, tents
and other martial equipage; stood and re-
lieved guard; marched and counter-march-
ed; and went through various evolutions.
At last one of the company deserted, was
pursued by a guard, brought back, and
seemingly sentenced to be shot. The
courageous little bird submitted, hero-like,
to his fate, received the real fire of his
companions from their little mechanical
muskets, and fell apparently dead before

24 CANARY-BIRD.

the company. He was then taken up by
his companions, placed on a small tumbril
and dragged away to be buried. This
concluded the performance.

About two years since, I, myself, pos-
sessed an imported Canary-bird, who dis-
played equal semi-reasoning powers. His
cage was constructed without the usual
appendages of seed-box and water-fount;
but had a small rail-road placed at each
side, at the bottom of one of which was a
small car on wheels filled with seed, and
at the other a second with water. When-
ever my little "Mignonne" as he was call-
ed, was hungry, he, with his bill and claws
turned a small windlass which slowly and
gradually brought the car of seed towards
him. When it had arrived within his
reach, he placed his foot upon the cord
and retained it until satisfied; then letting
go his hold he suffered it to sink to its
former position. The same course of pro-
ceeding followed with the water. This
bird was the admiration of a host of

CANARY-BIRD. ^5

friends and visiters, and probably would
have continued so till this day, but being
hung from my window, on one occasion,
the nail by which it was suspended gave
way, and the cage was precipitated into
the street, instantly killing my talented
and docile little companion.

There are many instances on record of
the intelligence and rationality of the Ca-
nary, which are equally extraordinary with
the above; but the limits to which I am
confined prevent the possibility of a more
lengthened notice.

To other qualities I may add their won-
derful power of imitating various airs; for
they have here the correctness and taste
of an accomplished musician, keeping time
with the most scrupulous exactness and
adhering strictly to the melody. They
are taught these airs by means of a flageo-
let, or a serinette, or bird-organ. The man-
ner of tuition I shall consider in a future
section.

26 CANARY-BIRD.

SECT. II. — Of the most suitable season for
pairing Canaries, and the best situations
for breeding them.

The most suitable season for pairing
the Canary, commences, in this section of
country, in the latter end of February,
and from then until the last of March;
though they will succeed tolerably well if
placed together as late as the middle of
April. The former time should however
be preferred; the first brood invariably
producing the finest songsters, as well as
the strongest and hardiest birds. The
time may, however, depend upon the sea-
son's being favourable, or otherwise. If
the latter, it would be advisable to delay
their coupling until the weather becomes
more genial, for when the frosts are gradu-
ally disappearing and the sun begins to
shed its warm and enlivening rays, the
birds may be placed together, without any
fears as to a fatal result, which nearly

CANARY-BIRD. 37

always occurs should they be paired at
the time above mentioned.

When your judgment tells you that the
proper season has arrived, select your
cage, which should be of small size and in
a state of perfect cleanliness. At the
same time observe carefully that there are
no small red-insects in its crevices; as
these mites, as they are called, would be
productive of much injury. Of these I
shall speak more particularly hereafter.
Then choose the birds, which you intend
to pair, and place them together; for they
invariably mate sooner in a small cage
than in one of larger dimensions. When
they are at first set in company, they
generally disagree; but this need not be a
matter of alarm to their owner, as the
more bitter they are at the first, the sooner
they become reconciled, and the more per-
fect in their connubial felicity. This hap-
py period will soon be discovered by
marks of affection in the male towards

28 CANARY-BIRD.

the female, as by feeding and billing her,
pluming her feathers, &c.

During this season they should be given
the most enlivening as well as the most
nourishing food. I would strongly recom-
mend a composition, made after the fol-
lowing recipe, as the best addition to their
daily allowance. Take one egg and two
or three oysters, each boiled very hard,
then chop, or grate them fine, adding some
wheat-bread carefully and finely crumbled,
and a little swelled Indian and oat-meal in
equal quantities, and a small portion (two
drachms) of maw-seed. Mix the whole
well together. Give the birds a table-
spoonful morning and afternoon, keeping
the rest in a moist situation for future use.
In a week your birds will be paired. This
mixture I have found very successful in
many instances, and the experience of a
host of friends confirms my own.

The breeding cage, which must be of
good size, so as to allow the birds room
for exercise, must now be obtained. The

CANARY-BIRD. 29

situation is next to be considered; for
though wherever the cage may be placed,
the birds, prompted by instinct, will com-
mence building their nest, yet success
depends entirely upon its favourable posi-
tion. Should a cage be placed in a room
which is unexposed to sun and air, the
young birds, if any are raised at all, will
be sickly, weak, and less in size in three
weeks than those reared in a more favour-
able situation would be in ten days, or
even a less time. The reader will now
see the propriety, in order to secure fine,
healthy and vigorous songsters, of placing
their cage in an apartment open to the
sun-light. The morning sun is far more
preferable than the afternoon, for the ex-
cessive heat of the latter frequently causes
a dangerous disease in the hen-Canary,
known to bird-breeders by the name of the
"sweating sickness," or causes the hen to
become indisposed and leave her nest,
thereby blighting the rearer's hopes almost
at the instant of gratification.

30 CANARY-BIRD.

This "sweating sickness" is one of the
most direful and disastrous that affects the
Canary, for should the bird recover, a
species of red-mite appears on the body of
the hen, as the sequelus of the disease.
These parasites destroy the mother arid
her interesting brood, clinging to them
with the greatest tenacity, feeding on their
blood and remaining until life is entirely
extinct. Added to these incidents, they
are also liable to lay clear and unproduc-
tive eggs. All of these things arise solely
from their situation. Beside, Canaries are
noted for their preferences and antipathies,
and their behaviour in a room, or in a
cage, is ample evidence of their satisfac-
tion or dislike of the position which they
occupy.

SECT. III. — Of the mode of pairing ', and the
proper means to procure handsome colour-
ed Birds.

The Canary-bird, a native originally of

CANARY-BIRD. 31

the Canary Isles, from which it derives its
name, is, in its natural state, of a buff and
olivaceous-green colour, and does not pos-
sess a title of the beauty for which the
same family is remarkable in its present
condition.

When you undertake to pair your birds,
wishing to produce young ones of a regu-
lar and uniform colour, you must be care-
ful not to place those of the same shade
together. Should you neglect this pre-
caution, your birds will be less finely
marked, for while the colour of the young
reared from those of a mealy hue, will be
a dusky, dirty white, that of birds raised
from a fine jonque or deep yellow male,
with a mealy or pale female, will be of a
deep strawr colour, as the young in every
instance follow more the tint of the father
than of the mother-bird. This rule like-
wise occurs with all the other varieties,
and great care should always be taken in
the disposition of the old birds; provided

32 CANARY-BIRD.

you wish to secure young of a peculiar
and beautiful shade.

When you desire to breed "mottled, or
marked" and "splashed birds," the best
couples are formed by a regular shaped
green, or handsomely marked male, and a
bright yellow or jongue hen. The young
of these form a complete union between
the different shades of the parents, and
are frequently the most beautiful of va-
rieties. Should the production of entirely
green birds suit your taste, the parents
should be entirely green; or if the male be
of a very dark shade, it may be associated
with a brilliant yellow, or a dark mealy
hen, bred from a former admixture of the
same varieties. This association pro-
duces the rare and extremely favourite
sort known under the appellation of "Cin-
namon or Filmuth-birds." When your
wish is for full coloured birds, without the
slightest mark, a large and finely formed
mealy hen should be placed with a deep
coloured jongue cock. Should you prefer

CANARY-BIRD. 33

a very deep yellow, your parent birds
must be two close feathered yellow ones,
of the largest size and strength, as if they
be not, the young, though of the richest
colour, will be small and weak. This
association, however, produces the finest
coloured birds of all the varieties.

In breeding "top-knot" birds, the male
only should have the crest, for were it
worn by both, the young raised would be
of that odious character known to dealers
by the quaint title of "bald-heads."

SECT. IV. — On the materials for building
and the best nests to be procured.

In the selection of materials for nests,
the greatest care should be observed in
regard to their cleanliness; for on that
requisite depends entirely the health and
vigour of the young. Many articles are
given to the Canary for the purpose of
building, but nothing answers the purpose
so well as Cow's or Deer's hair. This

34 CANARY-BIRD.

should be well washed, to free it from
dust or insects of any description, and
then carefully dried in the sun. The
material may be preserved after the first
use, and on again being washed and dried,
will answer equally as well for succeeding
nests, during the season.

The boxes, in which the birds are to
build, should be composed of basket or
wicker-work, with wire-work bottoms.
This allows any particles of dust which
may collect to fall through; and it prevents
the breeding of those small red-mites, who
prey upon, and in a very short time gene-
rally destroy, the young birds.

In preparing the breeding-cage the bot-
tom should be covered with fine red or
silver sand, the former is the most prefera-
ble, or gravel, well dried, and laid to a
considerable depth along the whole floor.
This little precaution will often save the
life of a most valuable bird, which the
hen, in flying from the nest, might acci-
dentally pull after her, and which, if it fell

CANARY-BIRD. 35

on the hard board, would certainly be
killed.

It is better, in placing your birds in the
cage at first, to give them but one breed-
ing-box, as they are frequently puzzled to
make a choice, and carry the materials
for building from one to the other; a
circumstance which is always a loss of
time, and a disappointment to the breeder.
When the first nest is finished, and the
hen commences sitting, the other box may
be inserted; although I think it would be
advisable to defer it until after the young
are hatched, and indeed recommend the
making of the nest by the raiser himself
for the second brood, as it preserves the
birds from unnecessary fatigue, and suf-
fers them to commence operations much
sooner. The shape should approach as
nearly as possible to that of the one made
by the Canaries themselves; though that
is of little consequence, as if it be not
agreeable, they will soon alter it to suit
their taste.

36 CANARY-BIRD.

SECT. V. — Of the most proper food for, and
directions for feeding Canaries in the
breeding season.

The next step for the bird fancier to
observe, is to obtain proper food for the
old birds, while engaged in the sustenance
of their callow young. As I before re-
marked, the nearest approach to a state
of nature will be productive of the most
beneficial results. The following directions
must be closely observed. Take an egg
and boil it very hard, then grate it through
a coarse grater, such a one as is used
for the purpose of preparing horse-radish
(and which must be washed very clean
before using it) will best answer the object;
then take a small piece of wheaten
bread, baked the day before, about the
same size as the egg, and grate it in the
same manner; add to this a table-spoon-
ful of fresh Indian meal and mix the
whole very closely together, making it

CANARY-BIRD. 37

finer with the hand; after which process
pass it through the grater two or three
times. It may then be given to the birds.
As bread and butter, or even Turkey, is
an excellent food to the human species in
its place, so is this to the Canary; but as
were we confined to the most delicious
articles in existence as a daily food, we
should soon become cloyed or disgusted,
and desire a change — so is it with the
birds. Take every two or three days a
nice piece of clean, stale, wheaten bread,
without its crust, which has been soaked
in water, squeeze out all the moisture, and
pour over the whole a little fresh milk.
Of this give a small portion, a table-spoon-
ful at a time, to your feathered charge.
They should also have given to them,
whenever they can be obtained, fresh cab-
bage-leaves, which are the most use-
ful and nutritious thing they can eat, at
least two or three times a-day; and beside
this, fresh chick-weed or salad, when in
season.
4

38 CANARY-BIRD.

It is a frequent circumstance with per-
sons commencing the rearing of Canaries,
without fully understanding the necessary
rules to be observed in their management,
to meet so many crosses and such fre-
quent, and, as they imagine, causeless dis-
appointments, to yield their attempts in
utter hopelessness, attributing faults to
the birds, and blaming dealers for the
failure which results alone from their own
negligence or inexperience.

The principal reason for the loss of
young birds, are their either being fed too
much, or too little, or at irregular times,
and without paying the proper attention
whether the food given is, or is not, in
season. For an example, chick-weed or
salad, when fully matured, are excellent
articles; but, if given too early in the
spring, they become of a poisonous nature,
and frequently cause the destruction of a
whole aviary. These should not be given
before the last of May, when their cold

CANARY-BIRD. 39

and acrid juices are rendered innocuous,
by the then constant heat of the sun.

Whenever your young birds are fully
able to feed and take care of themselves,
which circumstance may readily be dis-
covered by the want of attention on the
part of the parents, or the refusal of the
young to be so nourished any longer, they
may be taken from the breeding-cage and
placed off in another receptacle. Their pro-
per food, which should be regularly given
them, is a chopped or grated egg, with
bread and Indian-meal, with the addition
of about £ oz. of maw, and some ground
or bruised rape-seed. When they arrive
at the age of six or seven weeks, and
their bill becomes hard, they will be able
to crack hard seed, which may, however,
be kept in their cage before that time
arrives. They should then have all the
varieties, viz. rape, canary, yellow and
hemp-seeds, but well mixed together, given
to them, taking at the same time the
greatest care that fresh seed be placed in

40 CANARY-BIRD.

their boxes at least every other day. The
hemp-seed should always be bruised. It
is frequently a practice with some per-
sons, to feed their Canaries entirely on
rape-seed, under the foolish delusion of
its producing length of life. This ridicu-
lous mode of sustenance invariably causes
them to become so thin and weak that
the first, and in many cases what would
only be a slight illness, easily sweeps
them off; and most particularly during the
moulting season. Another evil, which it
is difficult to guard against, is, when you
place your old birds in the cage to breed
and give them soft food, they sometimes
gorge themselves to such a degree as to
swell, and die off very rapidly. This soft
food is not entirely necessary for them,
nor should it be given to them without
anything else. They should always have,
when breeding, their seed-box well supplied
with canary, hemp and rape, and now and
then a little lettuce-seed, which acts upon
them medicinally, and purges them from

CANARY-BIRD. 41

all the foul humours which may have
generated in their delicate systems during
the long and arduous winter season.

The breeding, gentle reader, being by
far the most critical and dangerous por-
tion in the life of the Canary, and re-
quiring the most careful and judicious and
difficult management, deserves from me
the most particular and lucid directions.

The hen sits about thirteen, but most
generally fourteen and sometimes even
fifteen days. The time, however, depends
wholly upon the season, and the state of
the out-door atmosphere at that interest-
ing period; in clear, fine and warm wea-
ther, the young are much sooner produced
than if the air be cold, raw and unpleasant.
Two days before the young are hatched, it
becomes highly necessary to clean the
perches of the cage thoroughly, fill the
box with fresh mixed seed and the foun-
tain or cup with new water, in order that
the old birds may not be approached or
disturbed at that critical juncture. The
4*

42 CANARY-BIRD.

soft mixture, before recommended, must
now be given to them regularly three
times a day, and also the mixed bird-seed
every morning, with the addition of a
little chick-weed, or cabbage or lettuce
leaves. The former must be thoroughly
cleaned from any dirt which may adhere
to it, and from the large rank leaves,
which are always indigestible, coarse, and
too often very injurious. In the months
of July and August, the birds may be
given ripe plantain or salad leaves, feed-
ing them always about six o'clock in the
morning, twelve at noon, and finally five
in the afternoon. Should you make the
hours of feeding an hour later or earlier it
will make no material difference, provided
the same course on each and every suc-
ceeding day is strictly observed. The
great requisite is regularity.

During the hot and enervating summer
months, they require more particular, and
in fact, almost constant attention; the soft
food which is put in the cage in the morn-

CANARY-BIRD. 43

ing, frequently turning sour before they are
fed the second time. The remains should,
however, always be taken away and re-
placed with fresh food of the same kind
at each succeeding feed. The chick-weed,
lettuce or cabbage also becomes wilted or
withered, and is thus rendered unfit for
use. Should the old ones be suffered to
feed their young on this decayed and
nauseous substance, the growth of the
chicks will be delayed, and they, instead
of becoming regular, straight, taper and
strong birds, will be weak, large bellied,
and never worth half the price or esteem
they would otherwise obtain. They should
also have at this season, lettuce and wild
plantain-seed, when it can be obtained,
upon the medicinal qualities of which, I
have before commented.

You must also carefully note the sort of
food the old birds most prefer, and then
allow them a greater portion of that pecu-
liar kind; for the less the young are fed
on the soft and green food the better, as

44 CANARY-BIRD.

they advance in growth the faster, which
is finer for their health and more suited to
ensure their future worth. Because from
this food solely arises the surfeit or
swelling I have just described, and which
may readily be prevented by adhering
to the above simple rules. A piece of
coarse stick-liquorice should occasionally
be placed in their water founts; this at the
same time giving a pleasant flavour to
the water, and acting as an alterative on
the systems of the birds.

During the continuance of warm wea-
ther a pan of water should be placed in
their cages once every day, that the
birds may bathe and wash; an amusement
of which they are extremely fond, and
which at the same time greatly refreshes
them. Fresh water should also, during
the hot months, be put in their fountains
two or three times a day; as they drink
oftener at that season than at any other.
In cold weather once a day will suffice.

CANARY-BIRD. 45

SECT. VI. — Directions for making the Ger-
man Paste, and for rearing the young by
hand.

Should you desire, either for the pur-
pose of strengthening your old birds or to
gain time in the short season of breeding,
to bring up your young birds by hand, it
will be first necessary to observe whether
they are of sufficient age to be removed
from the parental care; since they will, in
case the attempt be made at too early a
season, pine away and most probably die.
The last, however, seldom happens. But
on the reverse, they must not be left too
long with the old ones, as they then be-
come perverse, obstinate and sullen, and
also extremely difficult to feed. The time
of removal must be left entirely to the
discretion of the fancier, though I would
recommend it to be done when the birds
are from twelve to fifteen days old.
Should you succeed, as with common

46 CANARY-BIRD.

attention you will, your young ones will
be rendered remarkably docile and affec-
tionate.

The birds that you intend to rear in this
manner should be well fledged or fea-
thered, and when taken from the tender
protection of the mother, should be placed
in a rather dark and secluded situation,
(which treatment has the effect of render-
ing the subject of it forgetful of the old
ones,) and kept in a warm box, lined with
cotton, or some substance of a like nature.

There are some exceptions to this rule,
which occasionally occur; as when from
the heavy task of breeding, the hen is
sometimes taken sick. Then it behoves
the fancier immediately to remove the
young, as she will be utterly unable to
attend to them and they fall ill and die.
Consequently, it becomes necessary to
bring them up by hand, unless you may
have another hen under whom they can
be placed. It also frequently happens that
a hen is so careless of her young, and

CANARY-BIRD. 47

feeds them so seldom, that unless they be
taken from her, they will soon perish from
neglect and want of food.

When this happens, the young must be
taken away immediately, or in a short
time they will become past recovery.
The hen also often forsakes the young
when eight or ten days old, or frequently
abuses them by plucking their downy
young feathers from them to line another
nest; even when she has every thing
which is proper for that purpose around
her. Whenever this fact is discovered,
the young must be removed and reared at
once by hand, or they will soon become
victims to her savage conduct. But un-
less there is some such occasion, they
should always be left with the parents
until the time before mentioned.

When you have concluded to remove
them, the following composition, entitled
"German Paste," must be made for and
given to them, as hereafter stated. When
carefully made and the directions for its

48 CANARY-BIRD.

keeping observed, it will continue fit for
use at least two weeks.

Recipe for making "German Paste."

"In a large mortar, or on an even table,
you must bruise, with a rolling-pin, a pint
or quart of rape, in such a manner that
you may blow the chaff away; to this
bruised seed add a piece of bread, re-
ducing them to powder; mix these to-
gether, and put them in an oak box, which
should be kept from the sun. You may
give them a tea-spoonful of this powder,
with the addition of a little hard yolk of
egg, and a few drops of water; and thus
you will have prepared in a few minutes
excellent food for your young birds. This
powder must not be kept longer than
twenty days, as it then becomes unfit for
use, the rape-seed turning sour, so that
when water is put to it, it smells like mus-
tard."

At the expiration of two weeks, should
any of the powder above mentioned be

CANARY-BIRD. 49

left, it may be given to the old birds dry,
as it is then equally nutritious, or more so
than the unshelled seed, and cannot in any
wise do them injury. I myself prefer
making a small quantity of this paste,
every day, since I find the young grow
more rapidly under such treatment. During
the first three or four days after they are
taken from the care of the parent birds,
they should be fed on stale sponge-cake,
rubbed to powder, with the addition of the
hard-boiled white of an egg. The yolk
should not now be given to them, as it is
too heating, and can only do injury. Add
a little water, which will make this up into
a thick paste; not too much, for the com-
position will then be too liquid and digest
so rapidly as to be of very little use to the
bird.

When your young birds get to be three

or four days old, and are acquiring strength

and vigour, a small quantity of rape-seed,

over which boiling water has been poured,

5

50 CANARY-BIRD.

may be added to the composition already
described. The seed need not be bruised,
as they are then capable of digesting
them. A sweet almond or two, chopped
fine, with a small proportion of chick-weed
seed, may occasionally be given to them.
The latter is very requisite for them, when
the weather is hot and dry, at least twice a
day. Should you observe strictly this
prescribed mode of feeding, the certainty
of your birds thriving is so great, that
it will be impossible to lose one in fifty.

When your young birds first commence
feeding themselves, should any of them
fall ill, they must be treated according to
the following directions. Take three table-
spoonsful of hemp-seed, first carefully wash-
ed in cold watef, bruise it in a mortar,
immediately placing it in fresh cold water
a second time, from which take it again
and place it in a fragment of clean linen,
then squeeze the entire juice of the contents
into the last used water through the cloth.
This forms a draught called by fanciers

CANARY-BIRD. 51

"milk of hemp-seed;" which is extremely
strengthening and nourishing to young
birds. The water fount should always be
removed before placing the medicine in
the cage.

When you bring up birds by hand, they
require frequent feeding, and should be
attended to every two hours at farthest.
To ensure complete and permanent suc-
cess, there is no other thing so absolutely
necessary as regularity, by which I mean
the observing the utmost strictness in
keeping to the same hours of feeding
every day; these hours being as frequent
as possible. They should be fed with a
small piece of sharpened wood, and at the
time of feeding, allowed as much as they
will eat, which is generally four or five
mouthfuls. It will be easy to perceive
when they are fully satisfied, as they then
refuse to open their mouths, at which
time the operation should cease, as were
the feeder to force them to swallow more,
it would have the effect not only of dis-

52 CANARY-BIRD.

tending their craws, which would make
them unhandsome birds hereafter, but
likewise give them a disease called the
"surfeit," which arises in consequence of
a weakness of their digestive powers at
that early period of their lives. This may
too often prove fatal. When they get to
be three weeks or a month old, you may
discontinue feeding in the above manner,
for they will then be able to attend to
themselves; but this must be done for at
least the time stated. The young birds
should at first be put in a cage without
perches; for if not, they will be apt to
strain, or otherwise injure themselves,
from an ambitious peculiarity belonging
to all the feathered tribe — the desire to
reach an elevated position. At this time
I would recommend the fancier to place a
little rape and canary-seed in the cage;
as the birds cannot too soon learn to feed
on those articles, nor in fact commence to
feed at all; but the seeds should be scalded

CANARY-BIRD. 53

previous, or else the outer shells would be
difficult for their tender bills to break.

When you see that they have gained
sufficient strength, but not before, you
may gradually remove the soft food en-
tirely from them, and leave them nothing
at last but rape, yellow, millet and canary-
seed. They should likewise have placed
in their boxes or founts, but only occa-
sionally, a small portion of hemp-seed,
bruised with a roller, which is nutritious
at all times if given sparingly, but espe-
cially the best for them in the winter
season.

It has long been, and still continues a
matter of contention among professional
bird-fanciers — whether birds brought up
by hand, or those reared from the nest,
are the strongest and best songsters?
Some assert the former, predicating their
position on the extraordinary attention
they receive from the rearer; while others
insist that those raised by the birds are
the most preferable. My own opinion is
5*

54 CANARY-BIRD.

in favour of the hand-raised birds, which
not only receive more care, and conse-
quently should be the most vigorous, but
they are likewise rendered far more docile
and affectionate by the operation. Be-
sides, it often occurs that young birds
solely attended by the parents, should the
old ones fall sick during the time of breed-
ing, which is a frequent occurrence, be-
come afflicted with a kind of consumption,
analogous to that which is common to
the human species. The parents, likewise,
frequently have five or six young birds in
one nest under their care, and being
severely fatigued in providing and carry-
ing food for so many, often neglect and
sometimes even forsake them. Of course,
even in the former instance, the young
become feeble and very often die. It also
becomes a matter of great relief to the
adults when the birds are taken from them
at ten or twelve days old, and they live
much longer than when they have the
whole task of rearing them themselves.

CANARY-BIRD. 55

Besides, it is a matter of greater profit to
the breeder, since the parents the sooner
gather strength, and are capable of raising
a greater number of birds in a season.
The young, as I before said, likewise be-
come more familiar, and are far less apt
to die during the time of moulting.

The quantity of birds gained by this
treatment is, on the average, at the least
one more brood of young to every pair of
adults; and these can, without fatiguing or
doing themselves the slightest injury, raise
four and sometimes even five nests in one
summer; the next season being as fully
able and in as good a position to breed,
as they were at the commencement of the
one previous.

Should a frosty day or two occur when
the young are first hatched, the warmth
of the apartment in which they are situated
must be increased, to prevent any fatal
results; and should there be any prospect
of a long continuance of cold weather, the
pairs that have not then laid should be

56 CANARY-BIRD.

withdrawn from the breeding cages. This
last should only be done when it promises
to be very severe.

The first and second nests are always
the best, solely for the reason of their
being better attended to and fed by the
parents than any subsequent broods, and
perforce must be the strongest and most
vigorous birds. These first broods have
also the moult occurring during more con-
genial months, at the latest in June or
July, while the later-produced birds do so
during the generally cold and raw seasons
of October and November. Young birds
may be moulted singly, which some prefer,
or in a fly, (large cage,) or an airy, warm
room. If in a cage, not more than ten or
at the outside twelve birds should be
placed together, which number may be
associated without the slightest injury,
which answers nearly or equally as well
as keeping them separately; for if there
be more, disease and death in a heavy
degree will certainly be the result.

CANARY-BIRD. 57

To those who intend rearing birds, no-
thing will be found so beneficial as the
keeping a book, in which should be care-
fully noted the number of the cage, when
the first egg is laid, the commencement of
the hen's sitting, and the time the young
should be hatched. Those who observe
these rules will never have cause to regret
it; as they will be provided for all contin-
gencies, and know when and how soon to
commence providing for the coming young
ones.

Breeding birds seldom if ever live for a
longer period of time than twelve years;
while others, who are kept for the sole
enjoyment of their song, have been fre-
quently known to attain the age of twenty
years and upwards.

SECT. VII. — On the distinguishing charac-
teristics of the sexes in Canaries.

The readiest, though till now almost
unknown method of discovering whether

58 CANARY-BIRD.

a bird is a male or a female, is by taking
it in your hand, holding it gently, and then
blowing apart the feathers on the abdo-
men. In the male, the lower portion of
the body gradually tapers off toward the
tail, and is slender, neat and close feather-
ed; while the breast-bone is larger and
more pointed than in the female, in whom
that portion is rather the reverse, the dis-
tance from the breast-bone to the tail
greater, and the whole appearance of the
abdomen fuller and more rounded. With
a little practice, and a comparison of the
different sexes, the fancier will be enabled
to judge of a bird's gender at all seasons,
and will not fail, so certain is the system,
once in a hundred instances. This is a
new method, now for the first time pub-
lished.

The older and more common plan of
discovering the sexes, is by the colours of
the birds. The male always being of a
richer and brighter hue under the throat,
and wearing a streak of brilliant yellow

CANARY-BIRD. 59

over the eye. His head is likewise larger,
wider and much longer than the female's,
and he has always a greater brilliancy
of plumage. His legs are thicker and
stronger, and his feet and claws are of
larger proportions.

Some fanciers only distinguish them
when they commence to sing, or rather
warble; this all the young males, or a ma-
jority of them, generally do when they first
commence to peck hard seed, which hap-
pens at the age of a month; but when they
have passed their first moult they strike
their notes with considerable precision
and clearness. They should then, to pre-
vent mistakes, be separated, the males
placed in one cage and the females in
another, as the sexes become known.
The males are also much sprightlier in
action, quicker and more agile in their
motions, and always more taper, graceful
and slender in proportions than the female.

To test the difference of appearance
between the male and female, place two

60 CANARY-BIRD.

mealy birds, of whose sexes you are aware,
in a cage together; you will then see the
variation in colour, form and figure; and
may readily perceive and understand the
characteristics of each. Some fanciers
pretend to tell the sexes by the brightness
of the colour on the saddle of the bird and
on the shoulders of the wings: now all of
these rules may be observed in connection
with each other, but the first rule that we
have given, is, by far, the most certain.

The young fancier will now be easily
able to select his birds, as the remarks
before mentioned will apply in all cases;
but if he depends wholly upon colour in
making his selection, he may, in some few
instances, be liable to mistake, as it some-
times occurs that the male and female so
closely resemble each other in outer ap-
pearance and plumage, as to require an
old arid experienced judge to detect the
difference.

CANARY-BIRD. 61

SECT. VIII. — On the teaching Canaries an
artificial system of song.

Among the various songsters of the
feathered tribe, none is so much a favour-
ite, nor so generally esteemed for the
sweetness, regularity and power of his
song as the Canary-bird. Among his
many excellent qualities, one of the most
striking perhaps, is his singular talent of
imitation, and his facility in acquiring all
the different changes and variations of an
air of music; but this only occurs when
young, and before his taste is formed for
the notes given to him by nature. The
system of tuition, which is either by a
flageolet, or most commonly by a serinette
or bird-organ, is very simple, and will re-
quire but little of the fancier's time and
attention. By these instruments they will
easily learn whole tunes. Among the
different methods pursued for this purpose,
I would recommend the following as the
6

52 CANARY-BIRD.

most suitable and best calculated to effect
the desired end.

In from ten days to two weeks after
your bird commences to feed himself,
first putting him in a separate cage, re-
move him from all society of his kind, to
some close apartment, where it will be
impossible for him to hear the whistle of
any other bird. You may do this at an
earlier period, if you hear him make any
attempts at his natural song. His cage
should then be covered with a thin linen
cloth, for a week to ten days, before you
commence operations, in order to make
him as solitary and as tame as possible.
The flageolet or the bird-organ may now
be used. Neither of these instruments
must be too shrill or harsh; as the bird
will invariably follow in the same tone,
which will cause in him so great an exer-
tion of the lungs, that death will in all
probability be induced.

When fifteen days have elapsed, it will
become necessary to substitute a piece of

CANARY-BIRD. 63

thick red or green flannel, for the thin
linen cloth, with the former of which he
must remain covered until he is fully per-
fect in the air that you are labouring to
teach him. The best time of feeding him
during this period, is at night; since then
he will not become alarmed, or have his
mind diverted from the tune which you
may wish to play to him, during the fol-
lowing day.

Some fanciers endeavour to learn their
little favourites a number of airs; but it is
by far the best system to teach them only
one; for however talented the birds may
be, they will be apt to confound the dif-
ferent tunes, which would be a great dis-
appointment. The time of learning de-
pends entirely upon the calibre of the
bird; a sprightly, active one generally
becoming perfect in his lesson in two or
three months, while others are sometimes
as long as six months. In a task of this
kind, the fancier should never be dis-
couraged; as if he observes the rules laid

64 CANARY-BIRD.

down at first he is sure of ultimate suc-
cess. Patience is the best requisite, the
observance of which will produce for the
owner, a valuable, interesting and curious
bird.

I before remarked that the organ or
flageolet should be soft and mellow in its
tune, for were it harsh, independent of the
danger to the lungs of the bird, it has in
my opinion a greater evil, since the bird
always closely imitates even the faults of
the instrument. The time for giving the
lessons should be thus divided: two lessons
in the morning as soon as you rise, one
or two at different hours of the day, and
two at a late hour in the afternoon, which
last, with the morning lessons, are always
most profitable to the bird.

At each lesson it will be necessary to
repeat the same tune several times, play-
ing it slowly and always entirely through,
so that the student may be enabled to
catch every note. The birds best adapt-
ed for this purpose, as it requires some

CANARY-BIRD. 65

strength to enable them to pass through
its apparent severity, are the mealy, splash-
ed or green Canaries, who are always
more powerful than the dark yellows or
jongues, these being the weakest, although
the handsomest of their race. You must
never attempt to teach more than one in
the same apartment, as they will always,
after your departure, practise upon the air
they have heard, and are sure to lead each
other into a wrong conception of the tune.
This is an evil which it is almost impossi-
ble, or at least very difficult and trouble-
some, to rectify.

SECT. IX. — On the necessary treatment for
sullen and savage male-birds.

It is a frequent occurrence to the bird-
fancier who attends largely to the propa-
gation of the Canary, to find in his aviary
occasionally some sullen, unsociable and
unmanageable cock-birds. These are
readily distinguished by their different

(56 CANARY-BIRD.

behaviour, when in full health, from the
rest of the tribe; being thoughtful and
even very sad and melancholy in appear-
ance, singing very rarely, and when at-
tempting to sing, having their song short
and without any of the natural sweetness
of the tribe. When you observe this
alteration in any of your young birds,
immediately remedy it by placing them in
a room, where they will have an opportu-
nity of imitating the manners and melody
of old, high spirited and courageous cock-
birds of fine song, or else your obstinate
bird will be worth nothing. The advan-
tage, however, which he receives, under
the tuition of fine birds, is extremely
great; as by degrees he acquires the
habits, manners and song of the other,
until his character at last becomes en-
tirely changed.

If, when you happen to pair a hen with
a cock-bird of this hypochondriacal charac-
ter, she should by any accident become
sick and die, your male bird will, in nine

CANARY-BIRD. 67

out of ten cases, pine away and follow
her, inconsolable for the loss of his mate,
whose death will bring back all his former
character. It occasionally happens that
you will have in your collection, a cock-
bird of an extraordinary savage temper,
who, upon the introduction of a hen into
his cage, will fall upon and immediately
kill her. When this happens, the best
remedy will be to take a hen a year or
two older than the cock, and one of the
same age with him, or a year younger,
which birds must have been kept together
for some time previous, and have be-
come perfectly sociable and familiar with
each other. When the season for breeding
arrives and you wish to pair your savage,
place the hens in a very large breeding-
cage, and when they have become per-
fectly used to it, and regard it as their
property, turn him in with them. This
will be scarcely done before he will at-
tempt to conquer or kill the hens; but they
having room to fly about, will together

68 CANARY-BIRD.

soon conquer and reduce him to entire
submission. He will then immediately
mate with them, and ever after be a socia-
ble and friendly bird. The union will
also be productive of much profit to the
fancier, as these forced matches always
result in the production of a by far
greater number of young birds, than those
do whose coupling was attended with
little or no difficulty.

It sometimes happens that you will
have a cock-bird who, as soon as the hen
lays, will very unnaturally break and eat
the egg, and again another who will,
immediately upon their hatching, throw
the young from the nest, and then pull and
drag them with his bill around the cage
until they are dead. In the first instance,
the following system will soon terminate
his egg-eating propensities, which arise
either from a want of such kind of food,
or a desire to possess the constant society
of the hen. You should take a clear egg,
which must be carefully blown and then

CANARY-BIRD. 69

filled with mustard; the newly laid egg
must then be taken out of the box and the
other inserted in its stead. The cock-bird
will, on discovering it, immediately attempt
to suck it, an attempt which I will war-
rant he will never dream of again. If you,
out of tenderness for him, would prefer a
milder course, take him from the hen and
put him in a separate cage near her, until
she has done laying, which always hap-
pens by eight o'clock in the morning; then
take her egg from the nest, replacing it
with an ivory one. After this the bird
may be returned to its old locality.

This separation should be repeated
every night, returning him each time when
you have removed the egg, until the hen
has completed her quantity; but then he
must be kept from her until her brood is
hatched, and the young able to fly about.
This is of course effectual; but the first
mode is the most simple and the most
certain. Care should be taken of the
eggs removed from the bird, and a box

70 CANARY-BIRD.

kept expressly for the purpose of retaining
them safe. This should have different
apartments, if you have more than one
pair, each of which should be numbered
with the number of the cage to which the
eggs belong, and be filled with bran, wool,
hair or tow, to prevent them from be-
coming cracked or broken. It sometimes
occurs that you will find a hen, who, upon
your removing her eggs, will immediately
forsake her nest. When this happens,
you will have to run the risk of your
cock-bird.

The male Canary, in the course of the
breeding season, and when the hen has
young ones, will sometimes fall sick. The
most proper method is to remove him
from the cage, and give him a liftle repose
for a week or ten days; as his illness
may probably arise from his being fed
upon the rich, soft food intended for the
young; such as chopped egg, green meat,
&c. &c. After this period, during which
he must be fed upon hard seed, you may

CANARY-BIRD. 71

replace him in his former situation with
the hen; but should he fall sick a second
time, he must be again removed, and
totally, from the female; as the married
life is not congenial to his health, and he
will answer better as a song-bird than a
breeder. The hen should be treated in
nearly the same manner when in the same
circumstances, her eggs removed from
her, and placed under some other sitting
hen to be hatched, or the young ones put
under one who has young and can attend
to them.

One of the most dangerous accidents to
which the hen Canary is liable, is to be
what fanciers call "egg-bound." When
this happens, she immediately falls off her
perch upon her back, and often dies be-
fore the fact of her sickness is discovered.
The proper treatment is to take her at
once from the cage or room, and gently
rub the lower part of her abdomen with a
little sweet almond or olive oil, which
will have the effect of enabling her to dis-

72 CANARY-BIRD.

charge her egg by the relaxation caused by
the application. The best thing, however,
in this case, is prevention, which may
easily be done by keeping a large piece of
mortar in the cage, at which the hen may
peck at all times, and which will always
enable her to lay her eggs without any
difficulty.

The hen Canary is likewise subject to
another disease of the nature of a fever,
which arises from her close confinement
on her warm nest. The heat of her body
is oftentimes so great as to stifle her
young ones, especially if the illness at-
tacks her before the young ones are a
week old. The best method then is, to
take and place them under another hen, if
there happens to be one who at that time
has nestlings; if not, you will have to run
the risk. The hen will then be able to re-
pose herself, which will at once remove the
disease. It sometimes occurs that the
hen will not sit when she has laid her full
complement of eggs; this indisposition to

CANARY-BIRD. 73

attend to her maternal duties, frequently
arises from the eggs being clear and un-
productive, which may easily be found out
by holding them up to the light. If they
be bad, they may be thrown away as use-
less; but if good, they may be placed
under another, or divided between two
hens, to be hatched.

When your Canary happens to break
his leg in the cage, which sometimes
occurs from the length of his nails or
claws catching in some inequality in the
perch, he should be put in a small cage
without any perches, until it becomes
well. The best plan, however, is to ex-
amine your birds occasionally, and when
you find their claws too long, to cut the
tips of them off with a sharp pair of scis-
sors. The perches must also be perfectly
smooth, round and strong, and when
placed in the back of the cage, should be
sharpened down to a fine point, which
should be inserted in a hole made by a
blunt awl. This will prevent the breeding
7

74 CANARY-BIRD.

of insects around it, who always seek
such situations, concealing themselves
from observation between the perch and
the back, whenever the bar, as it most
usually is, is fastened with wire. The
hole, however, must never go entirely
through the wood. Whenever you have
two nests of birds in one cage, or hatched
at the same time in a room, some of which
are stronger than the others, which gene-
rally happens from the first laid eggs
producing the first young, place the strong
of the one with the strong of the other,
and the weak with the weak in a like
manner of the other nest. This is a ne-
cessary proceeding, otherwise the strong
would get all the food from the younger
birds, who would consequently perish.

As every breeder is desirous of obtain-
ing the greatest possible number of birds
in the course of a season, it would be
advisable when you happen to have a
strong and vigorous male bird, who is
readily told by his loud singing at frequent

CANARY-BIRD. 75

intervals during the day, and his constant
activity, to associate him with two fe-
males. To do this successfully, it will be
necessary to have two apartments in your
breeding-cage, which can be done by
having a division in the middle, with a
small door through which the cock-bird
can pass, as the several wants of his par-
ties require his assistance. The hens,
whenever this system is intended, should
always be placed in the same cage to-
gether, for sometime before, and gradu-
ally accustomed to each other's society,
to prevent the possibility of disagreement.
But, by far the most pleasant and
agreeable method of breeding birds, as it
always occasions less trouble, and is pro-
ductive of greater enjoyment than cage
rearing, is that of taking a small room,
which should either open on the south or
east, and in which should be placed six
handsome strong jonque, or dark yellow
male birds, with double the number of
females; a system of raising young which

76 CANARY-BIRD.

is nearly always successful. The room
should have a table in the centre, well
supplied with deer's or cow's hair, moss
and wool, or tow, for the making of nests,
the seeds and food of different kinds most
suitable at that season, and water in
fountains and pans, the first for drinking,
the last for bathing. The floor should be
entirely covered with fine red gravel or
coarse sand, and neat round perches be
run from one side of the room to another,
or the limbs of a dead tree placed in
various positions for them to perch upon.
They should also have fastened in some
part of the room, where it will be easy
of access, pieces of the bones of the
"Osepia or Cuttle-fish;" a thing which
Canaries should never be without at any
season of the year, much less in the
breeding season. This can be obtained
constantly at the various seed-warehouses
of the city, or in country towns at the
various apothecary shops. The window
of the room should be fitted with a neat

CANARY-BIRD. 77

wire-work bow on the outside, with perches
for the birds to sit, for the purpose of
sunning and airing themselves, and the
window-sash raised whenever the weather
is warm, clear and fine. The nest boxes,
in which baskets should be inserted, should
be hung up in various parts of the room
against the wall, in various situations, so
that the birds may make choice for them-
selves, and should be one in number for
every female bird in the apartment, to
enable the birds to select those which
they deem most preferable for occupa-
tion.

SECT. X. — General remarks upon breeding
birds.

The number of nests made by the Ca-
nary-bird in a season, depends almost
entirely upon the strength and character of
the male and female, and on the modes pur-
sued by the fancier. Some make and rear
7*

78 CANARY-BIRD.

but two, while others build three or four,
and frequently, under judicious manage-
ment, as many as six in a single spring and
summer, producing from four to six eggs
in each nest. When the fancier is pos-
sessed of a strong stock of birds, by care-
ful feeding and close attention, he will
readily render them almost beyond price,
as each pair will, in such case, produce
from twenty to thirty, and sometimes even
thirty-five eggs, in the course of the breed-
ing months.

The best mode of ascertaining the good-
ness of eggs, is, after the hen has set for
a week, to take and place them betwixt
your eye and the light. Those which are
fit to be continued under the hen will
appear thick, opaque and muddled, while
the bad will be perfectly translucent. The
latter may then be thrown away, and the
good either given to another hen, or re-
stored, with the addition from another
nest of the wanting number, to their
former situation. This will be found the

CANARY-BIRD. 79

most certain method of testing the charac-
ter of eggs.

When your hen has ceased laying every
morning, examine the nest and take out
the egg, replacing it with one made of
ivory; but as soon as she has laid her full
quantity, which is generally five or six,
take away the ivory egg and return the
whole of her eggs to their former situa-
tion. The hen will then commence sitting,
and in due time hatch all the young to-
gether; which, were the eggs left in the
nest, she would not do except at intervals
of several days; and then the first hatched
birds would probably be stifled to death
by the mother's continuing on the nest to
hatch the rest.

The hen always lays before eight o'clock
in the morning. If she be not regular in
this process, she is certain to fall sick and
require the attention given to egg-bound
birds, [see p. 71,] which she should imme-
diately have, to prevent fatal consequences.
Whenever you remove eggs from the

80 CANARY-BIRD.

nest, be careful not to fracture them, which
is frequently done by the very fear of
doing so, in the persons attending to them,
who let them fall and break from their
not holding them in a careful manner.
The best way of taking them from the
nest, is to seize each with the thumb and
fore-finger, holding it tightly and without
any tremor, as in that case you are cer-
tain to fracture them, or with a thin silver-
spoon, and then place them in the box
before mentioned.

A strange contrariety of opinion is
expressed by the different professional
bird-fanciers upon the following points.
Whether a hen Canary experiences a
greater portion of fatigue in rearing and
feeding her young until they are able to
fly; or in being kept for the purpose of
constant laying, and having her eggs
hatched and attended to by different birds?
Some hastily assert that the laying hen
becomes the weakest, while others more
sagely declare that the bird who has the

CANARY-BIRD. SI

constant care of her eggs and young, for
so long a period of time, becomes the most
enfeebled. My own opinion, founded on
long experience, is decidedly in favour of
the latter conclusion, for which I give the
following reasons. The bird in the first
place has to lay her full complement of
eggs, on which she must set from fourteen
to fifteen days, during which time she is
deprived of exercise and often very scantily
fed by the male; and again, when the young
are produced, she has the constant labour
of providing for them and herself, for at
least three, and sometimes four, weeks
more. She is then consequently more
injured than the other hen, who has none
of this fatigue, and is enabled to fly about
and retain her strength, for the sole arid
comparatively trifling labour of laying.
When your hen is, as I before remarked,
scantily fed by the male, or he refuses, or
neglects to attend to her and the young,
you will see her leave her nest and beat
him for his unhusband-like behaviour, and

82 CANARY-BIRD.

then proceed, compelling him to assist, to
gather the best and most nourishing food
for her neglected offspring.

It is always a matter of kindness when
your bird has hatched her first nest, and
wishes to go to laying again, to make her
second nest for her yourself; she will then,
if you allow her a little extra moss and
hair, without fatiguing herself, finish it to
her liking. After she has again done
laying, allow her to set on her eggs for
six or seven days, all that are then trans-
lucent may be thrown away as worthless,
and replaced with others of the same age
from another nest; while those of a dark,
heavy colour should be retained, or put in
the nest of another hen to be hatched and
brought up. This last should always be
done when your hen is a strong and
favourite bird. After this examination
and separation, the hen should be suffered
to enjoy a few days repose in a separate
cage. When you consider that she has
fully rested herself, she may be returned

CANARY-BIRD. §3

to her former situation and given another
nest, which must likewise be made for
her by yourself; and when she has again
laid her proportion and has sat upon them
for a week, you may take them away and
replace them with the eggs of some other
hen within a day or two of hatching.
These young ones will then be imme-
diately produced, and should be fed by
her until they are fourteen days old, and
then be taken from her and brought up by
hand. The hen should then again be
rested, and for a little longer time than
before, as she will be the stronger for it in
the end.

After this last operation, your hen may
have a third nest given her, observing at
the same time the former rule, which you
may allow her to keep herself, hatching
out her own eggs and rearing the young
until they are able to fly; or you may
follow the last mentioned system a second
time, and still continue her on breeding;
but if you are satisfied with the quantity

84 CANARY-BIRD.

of young ones she has given you, you may
remove her and her mate into a small
cage, where they can repose themselves
thoroughly and gain a sufficiency of
strength to enable them to pass through
the moulting season safely. Or you may
again allow them to rear another nest of
birds themselves, which they will readily
do, and then they may be finally sepa-
rated.

These methods are calculated in nowise
to injure the birds, but rather the reverse;
and it is a matter of well authenticated
fact, that a pair of birds treated in this
manner, will live longer and do more ser-
vice to their owner, than a pair who have
been allowed to go on regularly. These
last will often, if over fatigued in the
breeding, die as soon as the moulting
season has commenced.

CANARY-BIRD. §5

SECT. XI. — On the most prevalent diseases
which attack Canaries, and the modes of
prevention and cure.

In the observance of the various sorts
of diseases to which the Canary-bird is
subject, the fancier can only have recourse
to outward signs, and tl|Bs judge of the
affection within. These are never very
difficult to discover, as the Canaries in-
variably display, in the coming on of sick-
ness, strong and easily-noted symptoms.
We shall go on, however, and describe
the different kinds, with their appropriate
treatment.

SURFEIT. This is a dangerous disease,
nearly always occurring in young birds,
when from the age of a month to six
weeks, and is caused by their being fed
almost entirely by the parents on the rich
food partially recommended for the breed-
ing season. The symptoms of the affec-
tion are easily discerned. The abdomen
of the patient becomes frightfully enlarged,
8

86 CANARY-BIRD.

and of a dark, sanguineous hue; the veins
swell and appear distended with blood,
presenting a varicose appearance; while
the bowels of the affected bird partially
protrude, forming complete prolapsus ani.
When your bird is in this condition, which
you will first notice by his sitting on his
perch, or the ground, with his feathers
swelled out, take him up for examination,
which may easily be done, by blowing
apart with your mouth the feathers from
his stomach. If he be diseased, imme-
diately place a small piece of alum in his
water-fount, replacing his water every day
on the same piece of alum for at least a
whole week; if the alum be dissolved
entirely in the meantime, replace it by
another fragment. This will frequently
be found thoroughly efficacious. Another
apparently very simple though excellent
remedy, is to place a piece of rusty iron
in the fount of the bird. Another mode
is to empty the water pan of the sick bird
during the night, and refill it in the morn-

CANARY-BIRD. §7

ing with water, in which some common
salt has been placed. As soon as the bird
has drank of the contents several times,
you may again give him fresh water. If
these prescriptions succeed, which they
generally do, if given in time, your bird
will soon be on the wing again; if not, he
will die.

Other modes than these are, however,
practised by different fanciers; all of which
we append for their excellence.

Take a little wheaten bread and boil it
in milk, with the same proportion of
canary-seed. When boiled place it in the
bottom of the bird-cage every day for a
week, first removing his seed food the
night before, at mid-day taking it away,
and returning him his seed-box.

Another mode is frequently practised
by good fanciers, which is generally at-
tended with the most beneficial results.
Whenever you perceive your bird to be
attacked with the disease, and the swelling
is apparent to the eye, heat a little milk

88 CANARY-BIRD.

lukewarm and hold him in it until the
pores absorb a portion, which occupies
six or eight minutes. Then bathe him in
spring or pump-water of the same tem-
perature as the milk; after doing which,
rub him gently with a piece of fine muslin
before the fire, or warm him in the sun, if
it be shining in your apartment, till he is
perfectly dry. You may then put him
back in his cage and give him a little
lettuce-seed, and let him repose himself for
twenty-four hours, the next day pursuing
the same system; and so continue for two
or three days, allowing him to rest after
each operation a day, that the means pur-
sued may have a good effect. This sys-
tem, though apparently troublesome, if
pursued for the given time, will have the
effect in a few days of restoring your bird
to all his former health and vigour.

MOULTING. This is, of all others, the
most critical and dangerous period in the
lives of Canaries, and produces a greater
fatality among them than any known dis-

CANARY-BIRD. §9

ease. It is a more fearful scourge to
them than the plague or Asiatic cholera
has ever been to mortals; and if they are
the subjects of careless treatment, or pos-
sess injudicious tenders as their owners,
may justly be accounted the bane of their
tribe. Even when under the best of care,
many of them die from the effects, who
seem perfectly able, from strength of con-
stitution, to resist its violence. This dis-
ease is more or less fatal according to the
season. If the weather be damp and cold
during and at the coming of autumn, your
birds will die off rapidly; but if the weather
be warm and mild you will lose but few.
The time at which young birds, to whom
it is most dangerous, moult, commences
when they arrive at the age of six weeks,
and continues for a couple of months.
The symptoms of its approach may
readily be seen. The young birds become
sad and sleepy in appearance, and set
upon their perches, or the bottoms of their
cages, with their heads under their wings,

90 CANARY-BIRD.

for the greater portion of the day, while
the floors of their cages are covered over
with small pin-f, athers, which they shed
during all the time, until the new ones
appear. The young ones of the Canary
never lose their wing or tail-feathers until
the second year, which seems a wise or-
dination of Providence, for were they to
do so, scarcely one in ten would survive.
They likewise eat very sparingly, and only
of that description of food which they
most prefer, which should always be sup-
plied to them.

Great care must be taken as cold
weather advances, to give them the richest
kinds of food in addition to their usual
allowance, such as hemp-seed and sponge-
cake, with a lump of loaf-sugar for them
to peck at occasionally. One of the most
deadly things that can happen to the
Canary, is to be placed at this season in
a cold place, or where a draught can
reach him. This is too frequently done,
although it will certainly cause his death.

CANARY-BIRD. $\

He should be kept in the warmest room,
where no air from without can reach him,
and be put every day in the sun, which
should shine on him through the glass.
Should the moult prove uncommonly bad,
take a piece of sponge-cake and soak it
in white or sherry wine, the last is the
best, arid give it to him, as it will rein-
vi^ orate, and do him a great deal of ser-
vice. After this, and every day or two,
so long as he seems droopy, blow a little
sherry wine over his feathers, and then
place him as before in the sun, or set
him nigh the fire. A lump of refined
liquorice may also be thrown in his
water, with occasionally a little saffron.

Be careful that your birds, during this
time, are kept supplied with coarse gravel,
which is now doubly beneficial to them,
and a great assistance in casting their
feathers.

PlP, OR SWELLING ON THE RUMP. This is

another dangerous disease, that attacks
the Canary not only when young but at

92 CANARY-BIRD.

all stages of his life. It is a species of
reddish pip or bile, which appears upon
the rump of the bird. When the bile
appears small, the birds had better be fed
on cooling seeds, as lettuce and rape, and
suffered to break the sore themselves; but
if they appear very heavy and sleepy
looking, they require immediate attention.
Take the sick bird in your hand, and cut
off very carefully and gently the upper half
of the bile or swelling. Then press out,
as lightly as possible, the white or yellow-
ish matter it may contain, and touch the
sore with a little salt, which must be pre-
viously moistened in your mouth. This
will cause the bile to dry up. Should the
salt appear to pain the Canary, on whom
you operate, a little moistened brown-
sugar should be immediately applied, and
it will instantly alleviate the pain caused
by the previous application. Should the
bile, when you examine it, be not come to
a head, a little olive oil should be gently
rubbed upon and around it, with a small

CANARY-BIRD. 93

feather. This will allay the irritation
and inflammation.

SCABS ON THE HEAD. This is a mis-
chievous sickness which occasionally at-
tacks Canaries, for which the best remedy
is light and cooling food; such as rape and
lettuce-seed, &c. and repose. Time and
nature are here the only, as they are
everywhere the best, physicians.

RED MITES. Canaries are frequently
infested with these dangerous and trouble-
some insects, the symptoms of whose pre-
sence, is the bird's pluming and feathering
himself at all hours of the day. The cage,
when this is discovered, should be scrubb-
ed out thoroughly, and the shoulders of
the perches, and every crack and crevice
examined carefully, as the mites always
breed in such situations.

DlARRHCEA, OR LOOSENESS. This is a

very common sickness with the Canary,
which may readily be cured by the gentle
application of a little sweet almond or
olive oil to their bellies, and being fed

94 CANARY-BIRD,

upon cantelope-melon seed, which must
be bruised for them, besides the yolk of
hard boiled eggs, sponge-cake and a little
lightly scalded lettuce.

ASTHMA. Singing birds are frequently
asthmatic, or have a strange kind of
croaking in the voice. The best remedy
for this is sponge-cake, soaked in sherry
wine, which removes the difficulty of
breathing. A few wild plantain leaves
should be inserted in their cage every day,
while they are affected with this malady.

PERSPIRATION. This is a disease which
only attacks the hen-bird during the com-
mencement of the breeding season, and
which may readily be removed by wash-
ing her in half a wine-glass of fresh cold
water, in which half a tea-spoonful of
common salt has been dissolved, and then
bathing her in a little lukewarm water,
and standing her in the sun, or should the
sky be cloudy, before the fire, to dry; when
she is thoroughly so, but not before, she
may be returned to the breeding-cage.

CANARY-BIRD. 95

CANCER. A very fatal disease, very
prevalent among Canaries, and seeming
to be contagious. The seat of this sick-
ness is either the bill or foot, that becomes
much swollen, and if not attended to in
the early stage, always destroys the pa-
tient. The best method of cure is to
keep the cage constantly clean, so that
no particles of dust or dirt may adhere to
the schirrous part, and to bathe it fre-
quently with sweet almond or olive oil,
and wash it with lukewarm milk.

COSTIVENESS. When Canaries are cos-
tive and require purging, it may easily be
known by the want of appetite they dis-
play, and by their throwing their seed
over the cage, without eating any. The
best remedy is to give them a piece of
lettuce-leaf, with chickweed and rape-
seed for two or three days, and place a
little sugar-candy in their water-founts.

WANT OF APPETITE. This is a very
common thing with the Canary, after
sickness, during breeding or after the

96 CANARY-BIRD.

termination of the moulting season. The
best cure is to take a handful of millet,
canary, rape, yellow and a little hemp-
seed, mixed with the same quantity of
moistened garden loam, and knead them
well together; — then drying it, and cutting
it up into small pieces, which must be given
to the bird. This medicine may be laid
away after making; since it will be per-
fectly good for a great length of time.

BROKEN LIMBS. When a bird meets
with an accident of this sort, the best
mode of treatment is to place him or her
in a cage without perches, with a little
soft hay, and his seed-box and water- fount
upon the floor of the cage, which should
be covered round with a cloth, to prevent
him from fluttering about. Nature will
then do its work, and a few days will see
your little favourite as strong as before
the accident.

DECLINE. It sometimes happens that a
hen Canary who is kept from breeding,
will fall sick and die without any apparent

CANARY-BIRD. 97

cause, or without exhibiting any symp-
toms of disease. This arises because
they are denied the society of the male
bird.

We have now gone through the various
diseases to which Canaries are subject,
and shall close the section by recommend-
ing the amateur or professional fancier,
who breeds and keeps a number of birds,
to keep a separate or hospital cage for
those who happen to be taken sick.
This should be made of wood, with dark
sides, — with a wicker and not a wire
front, and covered inside with thick flannel
at the sides, top and bottom, to keep the
sick as warm as possible. One reason
for this is, that most diseases which attack
the Canary, are contagious, and if the
sick be kept in the same cage or apart-
ment with healthy birds, they may cause
the loss of an entire collection. Besides,
they require different food and more
gentle treatment than those in a state of
health.
9

98 CANARY-BIRD.

SECT. XII. — On the various methods of
breeding "mule-birds" and their general
management.

I have now arrived at the closing
section of that portion of my work de-
voted to the Canary-bird; which I shall
conclude with a short dissertation on the
breeding and management of "mule-
birds."

Mules are reared from hen Canaries,
paired with birds of different kinds, as the
Chaffinch, English Linnet, Green-finch;
but most commonly with the English
Gold-finch; which last association pro-
duces the finest coloured birds and the
best singers. They may be raised vice
versa, by pairing the females of any of
these birds with the male Canary. In
this country fine mules might be raised
by coupling the males or females of some
of our choicest native birds, with the same
sexes of the Canary. The varieties most
adapted to this purpose, are the "Song-

CANARY-BIRD. 99

sparrow," Fringilla melodia; "American
Gold-finch, or Thistle-bird," £. tristis;
"Purple-finch, or American Linnet," F.
purpurea; "Indigo-bird, Blue Tit, or Blue
Linnet," F. cyanea; whose rich azure and
indigo plumage, crossed with a bright
yellow hen Canary, might produce birds
of a magnificent and exquisite character,
both as regards feather and song; and last,
though not least, the splendidly marked
"Painted Bunting, Nonpareil, or Pape" of
the Southern States, F. ciris; which may
frequently be obtained of our bird-fanciers,
or at the warehouses of our best seed-men.
Of each of these more will be said under
their respective chapters.

The Gold-finch, however, is the most
esteemed in Europe as a breeder of mules,
and is the most common, and at the same
time most successful cross. The cock-
bird of this species should be placed with
a richly coloured hen Canary. From
these, on account of the rich colours of
the mule's plumage, the young birds are

100 CANARY-BIRD.

generally very beautiful. The following
methods must be observed, to secure the
attainment of your object.

When you undertake to pair your birds,
take them when young, and bring them
up either under a Canary hen or by
hand, feeding them during this prepara-
tory stage on a mixture of one-third rape
and two-thirds Canary-seed. This food
is the best adapted for them during the
breeding season, and under its influence
they most readily pair. Hemp-seed should
never be given to them, as they become
greedily fond of it, owing to its extreme
oiliness, and it is the most injurious nutri-
ment they could receive.

When the male-bird is a Gold-finch,
before you pair him, carefully cut off the
extreme tip of his beak with a pair of
sharp scissors. Should it bleed, which it
may not however, the application of a
little moistened brown-sugar will imme-
diately cure the wound. The reason of
this proceeding is simple, as it hinders

CANARY-BIRD. 1Q1

him from flying at and attacking the fe-
male Canary, who is frequently killed upon
her first introduction into his cage. It
also prevents him from injuring the young
birds, during the process of feeding, which
he might do, easily, by the sharp point of
his bill entering their throats and killing
them.

A Gold-finch, before being placed with
a Canary, should be two years old; and
the same rule should be observed with
any of our wild birds, who are always
caught by means of the trap-cage. Other-
wise, they would not lay the first year in
the cage. This circumstance, but few
even of our professional bird-fanciers
seem acquainted with, which is one
reason why many persons are disap-
pointed the first season; and so give up
the attempt in disgust; never essaying a
second experiment.

When wild birds are intended to be
crossed or bred together, they should be
placed in a room or cage with Canaries,

102 CANARY-BIRD.

that they may the more readily choose
their hen from among the number; a thing
which otherwise will be frequently of
some difficulty. Newly caught birds may
easily be tamed, by being hung very low
in a frequented apartment, as, in that case,
they soon become accustomed to society,
and extremely familiar.

It is a general rule in breeding mules,
for the dealer to couple the hen-bird of the
Canary with the male-bird of the opposite
species. This is in fact the most usual
system, but some dealers prefer breeding
the male Canary with the female Gold-
finch or Linnet, asserting at the same
time, that the young are handsomer and
of finer song. This may be true; for the
rule is always in favour of the young
bird's resemblance to the father, in plum-
age and possession of musical abilities.
The young, in this latter instance, differ
very materially in their personal appear-
ance, for while many are very plain, re-
sembling the wild bird of the opposite

CANARY-BIRD. JQ3

species, others are extremely beautiful
and marked with the various colours of
the male and female bird; and others are
again of a snow-white, being complete
albinos. The pied kind and the latter
species are the most esteemed, and from
their rarity, especially the last, are sold at
exorbitant prices. The cross-birds raised
from the Linnet, although the plainest in
feather, are preferable for song; since they
possess, by far, the strongest and most
melodious voices. The attempt is fre-
quently made to pair the hen Canary with
the English Bull-finch; but this though
occasionally succeeding, is always a mat-
ter of considerable difficulty; the Bull-
finch during the time of coupling, distend-
ing his bill and opening his mouth so wide,
as to excite the strongest terror in his
gentler and weaker companion. To en-
sure success in the matter, they should be
placed together a season in advance, and
kept in the same cage until the following
spring. Long association will then have

104 CANARY-BIRD.

accustomed the Canary to his demeanour,
and the desired object will be readily at-
tained.

When it is your wish to breed Gold-
finch mules, and you desire to rear those
of the finest possible character, you must
closely observe the following directions.
The cock Canary must be at least two
years old, close feathered, of the very
deepest yellow, and should never yet have
been paired; for if he has been previously
coupled with one of his own species, it
will be a matter of considerable difficulty
to mate him with any other variety; still
more with a bird of a different colour and
habit. The female Gold-finch should,
whenever she can be so obtained, be one
raised by hand, or from the nest, or at
least been captured a year previous and
fully accustomed to feeding on rape and
canary-seeds, with scarcely any or no
hemp-seed; the last being a food which
I before explained to be very injurious.

After they have coupled, and the young

CANARY-BIRD. JQ5

are produced, thistle-seed should be pro-
cured and given to the old birds. This is
the food they would receive in a state of
nature, and is of course best adapted for
their nutriment in that of confinement.
This may readily be procured on the
fields and commons in the neighbourhood
of the city.

Your birds before coupling should be
treated like Canaries, that is, placed in a
small cage, as long before the breeding
season as possible, so that they may be-
come fully accustomed to each other's
society, previous to the season of pairing.
Should you select your birds properly,
and closely observe the above directions,
you will be certain to obtain males of the
most beautiful and varied plumage; com-
bining the different colours of the cock-bird
with the softer, delicate tints of the hen,
and mingling into an association of hues
of the most gorgeous and magnificent
description. This brilliancy of colour
occurs less frequently in the case of a

106 CANARY-BIRD.

male Gold-finch and female Canary, and
the young raised are generally plainer
and always less valuable.

When the young birds have left the
nest, and are able to take care of them-
selves, it is advisable to place them in the
society of older ones, that they may ac-
quire the different changes of song. For
this purpose old Canaries are the most
preferable, and the trill which the young
mules acquire from them, is an important
addition to their wild wood-notes. Should
your young ones prove to be cock Linnets,
they should be removed from the nest-
cage whenever they are able to feed
themselves, and be placed immediately
under old Canaries. This course of edu-
cation will enable them to sing so loudly
and well in six months, as to prevent them
from being distinguished by voice from
their preceptors^ except when they, as
they will do occasionally, run into their
natural notes.

The most dangerous disease to which

CANARY-BIRD. 1Q7

the Gold-finch is subject, is called the
"epilepsy, or falling sickness." The symp-
toms of this may easily be discovered.
When the bird is seized with the disease,
he flies around rapidly, beating his wings
violently, and finally falls upon his back.
The mode of cure is simple and effectual,
if the bird be taken in time. Take a pair
of very sharp scissors, and cut off the tips
of his hinder claws. Should he bleed, as
he probably will, wash his feet at once
with a little white-wine, and give him two
or three drops of the same liquor upon a
piece of loaf-sugar. This treatment is
always successful if timely resorted to;
but unless it be done instantly the bird
will be certainly lost.

Another most excellent mule variety is
produced from the association of the cock
Averdivine with the female Canary. The
young reared by this couple are not very
beautiful, but on the reverse rather humble
in plumage; yet they are possessed of such
exquisite melody of voice, as to fully com-

108 GROSBEAK.

pensate for their unpretending appearance.
They are likewise very familiar and easily
tamed; indeed so much so, that they will
come at a call, perch on your finger, and
give forth their song at the word of com-
mand.

CHAPTER III.

DOMINICAN GROSBEAK. — Fringilla cardinalis.

The Cardinal Grosbeak of South Ame-
rica, as it is commonly called in this
country, though in Brazil known by its
proper title, is a native of the whole of
Central America, and is as celebrated for
its richness of plumage, as it is for the
loudness and beauty of its song.

It derives its name from the similarity
of its colours to the dress of the order of
Dominican monks, who wear a scarlet
cap, white frock and light grey cloak and

GROSBEAK. 109

hood, which are the colours of this bird on
the head, belly and back. It is likewise
ornamented with a brilliant crest, which is
raised and depressed at pleasure. In the
cage this bird has all the gracefulness,
ease and caprice of habit characterizing
the Mocking-bird, with much of its imita-
tive talent; while its voice is equally as
loud and striking.

Its food must be the same as that given
to our Cardinal Grosbeak; but it must be
kept in a warmer situation in the autumn
and winter, as it is unable to endure the
slightest cold. It requires considerable
room in the cage, without which it will
thrive less than is desirable.

The price of this bird in this country is
from ten to twenty dollars; though it can
always be bought in the markets of Monte
Video for one dollar. They generally live
to about the age of twenty years, though
some have been known to exist even to
that of twenty-five.
10

110

CHAPTER IV.

WHIDAH-BIRD. — Fringilla whida.

This singularly plumaged and gracefully
formed bird, is a native of the kingdom of
Whidah, in Africa, from which it derives
its name. Through the solemn colour of
the songster and its rather melancholy
notes, its appellation is frequently changed
into "Widow," by the ignorant fancier,
who believes it to be constantly mourning
its lost mate. This idea gave birth in us
to the slight poem which accompanies this
description.

To THE WHIDAH-BIRD.

Bird of the dark and glancing wing!

Whose home is Afric's burning strand,
With solemn accents sorrowing,

Why mourn'st thou for thy native land?
And why with cadence sad and low,
And look, the heraldry of woe,

WHIDAH-BIRD.

Where others sit in merry mood,

Dost thou alone with drooping plume

And fluttering wing, in sorrow brood,
And wail so deep thy settled doom?

Poor widowed thing! I pity thee

Thus early mate to misery.

But now thy sylvan song rings out

Above the voice of every mate,
And floats its mellow tones about

In mock'ry of their meaner state;
As if within thy downy breast,
That fount of grief had sunk to rest.
But lower, sadder now it grows,

As though thy grief no smiles could cheer,
And solemnly thy cadence flows

With wailing tone upon mine ear.
And thou dost mourn as one would mourn,
Whom grief had made the most forlorn.

Yet 'tis but seeming, lovely one!

Thy mate is seated by thy side,
And what we deem is grief alone,

Is but the strain of hope and pride.
Like to the Dove's, thy strains of bliss
And love and joy and happiness
Seem ever sad and ever low,

When thou art happiest of heart,

112 WHIDAH-BIRD.

And farthest from the pangs of woe,

That ne'er to life within thee start.
Still strike thy song! The spell is o'er;
What once seemed grief is grief no more.

The habits of the Whidah-finch in a
wild state, are similar to those of the rest
of its tribe; though, what may be the
character of its song in its native woods,
is as yet unknown, save from the imper-
fect descriptions of the African boors.
Its rich plumage is its principal attrac-
tion, being of a deep black, with the ex-
ception of the belly, which is a reddish-
cream, and its sides, which are a bright-
chestnut. Its chief ornament, however, is
its Bird of Paradise-like tail, which falls in
a graceful curve. Its song in confine-
ment is low, sweet and thrilling, at times
scarcely heard, but at others clear and
beautifully distinct from the notes of all
other birds.

It may be kept upon canary and other
seed, and treated when ill exactly like the

JAVA SPARROW. H3

Canary-bird; and must be well supplied
with water and gravel, and kept in a very
warm room during winter. It requires a
very large and high cage.

CHAPTER V.

JAVA SPARROW. — Fringilla .

This prettily marked Grosbeak, so com-
mon as a cage-bird in this country, is a
native of the East Indies and the Spice
Isles, from whence it is brought, with
many others of the same species, by ves-
sels in the China trade.

In the cage it is one of the most
quarrelsome of birds, and it frequently
occurs, that when a half dozen or more of
them are kept together, they will fight
until the whole, or a greater portion of the
combatants, are dead.

114 JAVA SPARROW.

Its plumage, for the sake of which only
it is kept, is silky and beautiful; but the
bird is so well known that it need not be
described. Its musical powers generally
amount only to the repetition of a single
"chuck," which is given whenever the
bird is in motion; but we once possessed
a specimen whose song had all the sweet-
ness of tone, but none of the variety of the
English Bull-finch.

Their food should be "paddy" or rough
rice, which they shell before swallowing,
or entirely canary-seed. They are very
fond of bathing, consequently they should
have plenty of water; and they likewise
eat immoderate quantities of gravel.

They are susceptible of considerable
affection toward their feeders. When
sick, they should be treated like the Ca-
nary-finch; than whom they are less hardy,
requiring to be kept in a warm stove-room
during the winter season.

115

CHAPTER VI.

WHITE-HEADED GROSBEAK. — Fringilla
leuco-cephala.

Another imported East Indian variety,
of plain, but neat plumage, living in its
native land on the rice-fields and among
the thickets which line the shores of the
large rivers.

Its plumage is of a reddish-brown,
excepting the back, which is darker, and
the head, which is of a creamy-white. Its
bill is white in colour, and as large in
proportion to its size, or even larger than
that of the Java Sparrow.

Its song is low and short, but harmo-
nious.

It may be kept in the cage on canary-
seed alone, or will thrive well on the same
treatment as the Canary-bird. It is very
familiar.

116

CHAPTER VII.

AVERDIVINE. — Fringilla averdivina.

This singularly beautiful and minute
songster, who is the smallest of all our
cage-birds, is occasionally brought to our
shores in company with the two preceding
species, and is highly celebrated for its
richness of plumage; and when we consi-
der his minuteness of size, for his astonish-
ing sweetness of song.

His colour is a rich crimson, spotted
and mottled with white, resembling closely
the before-described markings of the
British Starling. His form is graceful,
and his actions replete with sprightliness
and ease.

In confinement, where he is the most
sociable of birds, and may be kept in com-
panionship, the Averdivine may be fed
upon canary and millet-seed, and, in the
winter season, partially on bruised hemp.

LINNET.

He must also have plenty of water and
an abundance of fine gravel to assist his
digestion. He will readily breed with
the Canary, like which he should be
treated, and probably with some of our
native birds. He should be kept very
warm in the winter season, as he is
extremely delicate and sensible to cold.

CHAPTER VIII.

ENGLISH GREY OR BROWN LINNET. — Frin-
gilla linaria.

This small, neatly plurnaged, and in the
spring season, showy Finch, is one of the
most favourite of cage-birds in his native
country, and is equally esteemed in the
same situation here.

His colours are not very striking, and
the whole bird presents a rather dumpy

LINNET.

appearance. His back, head and breast
are of a reddish-brown, with the lower
portion of the belly and vent of a ruddy
white. In the spring season the plumage
of his breast softens into a rich, rosy-
crimson, somewhat similar to, but brighter
than the hue of our Purple-finch, to whom
in appearance he is closely allied, and his
wings and tail are of a dark and handsome
brown.

In confinement he is rather impatient,
and if kept along with other birds
very pugnacious; his song is loud, sweet
and harmonious, but apt, from his aptness
of imitation, to be spoiled; since he will
constantly, when in hearing of other song-
sters, take up and whistle their notes in
preference to his own. The Linnet, there-
fore, had better be kept apart from society,
as one of his sweet wild-wood strains is
far more pleasing, from its distinctness and
beauty, than the every-day song heard
from the throats of a dozen Canaries.

He should be fed and treated like the

GREEN-FINCH. 119

American Purple-finch; allowing him plenty
of gravel and a sufficiency of water, both
in a fount for drinking and a pan for
bathing.

His price varies from three to eight
dollars.

CHAPTER IX.

ENGLISH GREEN-FINCH, OR GREEN LINNET.
— Fringilla Moris.

This large and handsome Finch, occa-
sionally seen as a cage-bird in the com-
mercial towns of the United States, is
another of the natives of Europe and the
British isles. It is here frequently called,
in contradistinction to our own and the
English Grey or Brown Linnet, [F. Una-
na,] the Green Linnet, though from what
reason we are at a loss to discover.

120 GREEN-FINCH.

The colour of this Finch, as may be
gathered from its name, is green, but of
that peculiar character called "Sap" by
artists, which is brighter on the throat,
breast and belly than it is on the back,
where it runs into a dusky hue; while the
primary and secondary feathers of the
wings and the tail are of a dusky brown.

Its food, in a wild state, is composed
principally of the different kinds of grass-
seed and insects, which may be given to
it in confinement; but it may readily be
kept in the cage on the same food as the
Canary, and is subject to a like treatment
with that bird when diseased.

Of all the imported European birds, this
is the least celebrated for powers of song.
It is nevertheless a desirable variety, on
account of its distinct plumage and its
familiarity of character.

121

CHAPTER X.

ENGLISH GOLD-FINCH. — Fringilla carduelis.

This beautifully plumaged, sprightly
and delicate song-bird, of whom so much
has already been said in our former chap-
ter, devoted to the instructions concerning
the rearing mule songsters, is a native of
Europe, and strongly analogous in man-
ners and habits to the Thistle-bird, or true
Gold-finch of this country.

Of his mode of treatment in the cage
we have already spoken, and of the
advantages arising from keeping him in a
cultivated state; but as a single bird kept
for the purpose of song only, he is not a
whit inferior to the Canary.

His musical powers, however, are the
most striking, and exhibited with the most
effect, from the commencement of March
to the middle of July, during which time
they continue from sunrise to sunset.
11

122 GOLD-FINCH.

The Gold-finch is nearly always to be
obtained at the shops of our different
fanciers, where it commands prices vary-
ing, on account of quality, from five to ten
dollars each.

PART II.

LARKS. — Alaudse.

CHAPTER I.

ENGLISH SKY-LARK. — Alauda arvensis.

The Sky-lark, though one of the plainest
birds in plumage, is at once the theme of
the poet and the delight of the villager
and farmer. He is a native of the broad
fields of "Old England;" and never was a
bird more esteemed, or more deservedly,
for the sweet character of his song. Yet,
although thus delightful in the cage, a
portion of the charm is lost for want of
association. To enjoy his silver strain,
one should stand at early dawn and see
the Lark rising almost perpendicularly in
the air from out the tufts of grass, beneath
the shelter of which his mate and nest is

124 SKY-LARK.

concealed, his downy bosom swelling with
melody, which is poured forth in warble
after warble, the songster gradually be-
coming less and less to the sight, until he
is finally lost in the wide expanse of azure
which bends dreamily o'er the horizon.
Then, his soothing notes seem to float
over the scene like an elfin song, and then,
and then only can their sweetness be fully
appreciated. A somewhat similar species,
the Shore-lark, (Alauda alpestris,) inhabits
this country, which bird strongly resembles
in character and song the preceding song-
ster, to whom we append an effusion from
our own pen.

To THE AMERICAN SKY-LARK.

Far, far away

With the blue heavens around thee, in the light
The red sun sheds upon thy plumage gray,
Thou tak'st thy flight.

And like a strain

Of music poured from lips of seraphim,
Thy song drops down upon the smiling plain,
A gentle hymn,

SKY-LARK. 125

To where thy mate,

Amid the springing spears of em'rald grass,
Sits on her nest; whilst thou with heart elate

Doth upward pass,

And wait the hour
When, with her young and thee, she'll seek

again,

With swelling soul and wing of freshen'd power,

Yon azure plain.

Sweet bird, farewell !

Thine is the flight of genius, which awhile
Doth Lark-like mount beneath Fame's sunny
spell

And fortune's smile.

But soon the storm !

Then with the swiftness of thy downward

flight,
It passes from the vision, and its charm

Is lost in night.

To proceed. In confinement, a piece
of elevated green-sod should always be
kept in his cage, to afford him a stand-
ing place when singing, as he never
perches like other birds. The bottom

126 WOOD-LARK.

should always be well gravelled, and kept
as clean as possible. His food consists
entirely of seeds; but the leaves of salad,
or other greens, may be occasionally given
to him, and likewise a little hard-boiled

egg-

The Sky-lark has never been known to
breed in confinement.

Sky-larks are only occasionally to be
obtained in this country, and then most
frequently at the bird-fanciers, who pur-
chase them from the mates of European
trading vessels. Their prices vary from
five to ten, and sometimes even as high as
fifteen dollars each. They live to a con-
siderable age.

CHAPTER II.

ENGLISH WOOD-LARK. — Alauda arborea.

This neatly and prettily plumaged bird,
so closely related to the Sky-lark, and

WOOD-LARK. 127

somewhat resembling him in manners and
song, is frequently found as a cage-bird in
the towns of Europe, but only occasionally
in America.

His song is not so fine as the preceding
species', but is given more frequently, and
is of a lower and more monotonous tone.

In a wild state he resides in the low
wide-spread woods, or in the fields which
lie adjacent, where he sits and sings, or
soars like his before-mentioned relative,
whistling as he rises to the top of some
tall tree, from whence his lay is given the
greater portion of the day. He is most
frequently taken in nets by bird-catchers,
or raised from the nest by them, and then
brought to the bird-fanciers, who expose
him for sale.

His treatment is exactly similar to that
of the preceding species; but he may have
perches upon which to sit when singing.

PART III.

BULL-FINCHES. — Pyrrhulss.

CHAPTER I.

BULL-FINCH. — PyrrJiula vulgaris.

THE Bull-finch, so well known by name
as a choice and delicious songster, and so
greatly celebrated for its constant beauty
of plumage, is another of the many varie-
ties imported from Europe, to delight the
eyes and ears of our countrymen.

In the countries he inhabits he is by far
more commonly seen in the cage than in
his native woods and fields, which probably
arises from the great demand for him as
a song-bird, and his rather wild and shy
habits. There, he is towards his kind a
social and friendly bird, and becomes so

BULL-FINCH. 129

much attached to his mate, that their
connection endures for the life of the
parties. In the cage, he, however, be-
comes wonderfully docile if reared from
the nest; will breed in confinement; may
easily be taught to articulate words; while
his musical powers and imitative talents
are turned to the highest account by the
bird-fancier. He whistles tunes of consi-
derable length and variation, with all the
accuracy of an accomplished musician,
and in so surprising and so sweet a man-
ner, as to transcend the strength of the
most high-flown description. In fact, in
this branch of acquirement, he is entirely
unrivalled; for no musical instrument pos-
sesses a thousandth part of the depth and
entrancing harmony of his clear and deli-
cious voice. He has likewise been taught
to sing duets in company with other
birds of his kind, taking up his part,
finishing it, waiting for the response of
his companion, and then again proceeding
until the entertainment is finished.

130 BULL-FINCH.

When singing one tune, he will come
forth from his cage at the word of com-
mand, perch upon the finger of his owner,
and on being bid will pour forth his en-
chanting strains without exhibiting the
slightest fear, even should a stranger be
present in the room. Birds thus educated
bring with ease wonderful prices, and are
rarely sold for less than eighty dollars;
frequently commanding as high as one
hundred and one hundred and fifty dollars
each.

His colours are — back of a soft ash-grey,
with the breast and belly of a soft crim-
son-red, and his wings and tail of a deep
glossy black. His head is likewise orna-
mented on the crown with a patch of the
same raven hue.

In confinement he should receive seeds
of all the different kinds, except hemp,
which should only be given sparingly, and
when so, only in the winter, or during the
moulting season, which occurs at the
same time with him as with the Canary.

BULL-FINCH.

The same directions for this time of life,
and for other sicknesses applicable to that
bird will fully suffice for the Bull-finch.
He will likewise, by observing the rules
laid down in a previous section, breed
with the Canary-bird.

DIVISION II.

NATIVE BIRDS.

PART I.

TANAGERS. — Tanagrse.

CHAPTER I.

SCARLET TANAGER, OR BLACK-WINGED SUM-
MER RED-BIRD. — Tanagra rubra.

The Scarlet Tanager, one of the most
beautiful, if not entirely so, of our native
birds, arrives in the Middle States during
the time intervening between the first
and the twentieth of May. While his
residence continues, which is only during
summer, he is principally found in the
thick forests, but also on the edges of large

SCARLET TANAGER. 133

orchards, and frequently on the skirts of
ploughed fields, which he visits in search
of his insect food; at that season his only
sustenance. Nothing could be imagined
more lovely or exquisite than the glittering
scarlet and ebony plumage of this bird,
as he darts along either in frolic play, or
in pursuit of winged insects of various
kinds, like a winged meteor, through the
green and interwoven branches of the
budding trees.

Shortly after their arrival, the Tanagers
commence pairing, and by the first of
June, incubation has commenced. At this
time the young birds can easily be obtain-
ed, and may readily be reared on scald-
ed Indian-meal, soaked bread, raw beef
(dipped, in milk) and hard-boiled egg.
The two latter articles chopped very fine.

When the young have attained their
full size, they may be treated as regards
food exactly like the Canary. They
should also receive from time to time the
ripe berries of the different seasons, with
12

134 SCARLET TANAGER.

cherries and such insects as can be ob-
tained. In the winter, dried cherries, figs,
raisins and currants would form an im-
portant addition to their diet.

The young are at first of a greenish-
olive hue, which on the wings and tail
approaches to a dusky-brown colour; but
acquire their rich scarlet livery the en-
suing spring, moulting into the olivaceous
tint in the fall, and regaining the brighter
plumage, which becomes deeper and deeper
every succeeding spring, the following
season.

Their song, which is delivered for hours
together, is a sweet, mellow and harmo-
nious ditty of considerable strength and
power. It resembles very closely the clear
fife-like notes of the Golden Robin, or Bal-
timore Oriole, passes into the soft delightful
tones of the flute, and is at the same time
remarkable for its rich variety of cadence.

They should be kept in a warm stove-
room during winter, as they are extremely
susceptible of cold.

PART II.

FINCHE s . — Fringillss.

CHAPTER I.

INDIGO-BIRD, OR BLUE ^INNET. — Fringilla
cyanea.

THE Linnet, as it is most commonly
styled in this section of country, is another
one of our beautiful summer residents,
and is well known for its familiarity
and excellent song. This is lively, unique
and interesting; given not only at early
dawn, but during the intense heat of the
summer mid-day; and again is frequently
heard during the greater part of the night,
more especially if it be moon-light. Its
notes resemble those of the Canary, and
though less powerful than that bird's,
possess more sweetness.

136 INDIGO-BIRD.

In the cage it may be kept on precisely
the same food, and treated exactly like
the adult birds of that species. During
the spring they may, however, be given
insects, though chopped hard-boiled egg
will answer equally as well. They are
especially fond of the leaves of the com-
mon garden beet, (Beta vulgaris,) on which
I have frequently seen them feeding, in
company with thS Yellow-bird, (F. tristis.)

The colour of the male Indigo-bird is a
brilliant verditer azure, deepening on the
head and neck into a rich dark blue. The
plumage of the female is a dingy yellow
and olive-brown colour.

On one occasion, on a moonlight night
in June, while seated at the door of a
friend's country residence, enjoying at the
same time the cool breeze and the delight
of a "Davenport Regalia" cigar, I was
particularly struck with the song of one
of these birds, who sat on the highest one
of an adjacent clump of trees. At the
moment I penned the following effusion,

INDIGO-BIRD. 137

which may give some idea of the sweet-
ness of his strain in the lonely hours of
night.

To THE INDIGO FINCH.

'Tis the deep silence of a summer night,
A night in June. How solemn seems the scene.
The wood is hushed in slumber, while the trees
'Tween whose shut leaves the night wind playful

steals,

Kissing them into music, sadly breathe
A mournful requiem o'er the vanished day.
The brook, that through the meadow gleaming

creeps

And 'neath the wood, low ripples twixt the moss
Which interwoven lines its shelving sides,
Or pattering o'er the pebbles in its bed,
Hath changed its cadence to a lower tone,
More fitting to the hour.

The flowers have closed their petals and bowed

down
Their bells in slumber — And the wide-spread

fields
Lay like a burial place of by-gone dead.

Hark ! some sweet strain,
In mellow cadence, on the ear of night
12*

138 INDIGO-BIRD.

Falls like a lullaby. Whence comes the song,
And what doth give it life?

Again 'tis here !

Some elfin lover tunes his golden lute,
And, 'neath the beamings of the love-sick moon,
Soft woos his fav'rite fay.

More loud it swells,

While echo, wakened from her dreamless sleep,
Flings back in ecstacy the silvery lay; —
'Tis past and all is still.

Oh ! once again

Delight with me thy strain, which, like the lutes
Swept by the fingers of the heedless wind,
Gives forth strange music. Vain I gaze around,
Yet naught I see ! But now from yon tall beech,
Whose coronal of leaves is high in air,
Flitting betwixt me and the azure sky,
A form fast flies. Ah ! sylvan one ! 'twas thou
Who charmed me all unknowing.

He has gone

To his lone mate, and by her gentle side
Now rests in slumber.

Peace be with thee, bird !

The Indigo-bird should be kept in a
heated room during the winter; it being

PAINTED BUNTING. 139

so tender, that it is unable to endure the
slightest cold.

CHAPTER II.

PAINTED BUNTING, OR NONPAREIL. — Frin-
gilla ciris.

This brilliant and beautiful bird is a
native of the southern portion of the
United States, never visiting further north
than the Carolinas. He is usually styled
by the French residents of Lousiana, the
"Pape;" and by the rest of our country-
men, the Nonpareil, no other word convey-
ing a description of his exquisite beauty.

His song, though not so loud as the
Indigo-bird's, and more concise, still runs
into a delightful warble, which is continued
all summer. He is extremely docile, will
readily breed in confinement, and would

140 PAINTED BUNTING.

certainly produqe, if mated with a dark-
yellow hen Canary, mules of singular
beauty.

The male is of a vermilion-red, with
the head and back of the neck of a rich
blue, the back of a golden-green, wings of
a clouded-red, and the tail greenish, ap-
proaching to brown. The female slightly
resembles the hen Indigo; but contains
more yellow in her plumage.

The Nonpareil may be kept in confine-
ment on precisely the same food as the
Canary, with the exception of a little
unhulled or rough rice, of which he is
very fond, and which should be soaked
twelve hours before he receives it.

He is extremely sensitive, riot being
able to endure the slightest cold. These
birds may be occasionally obtained at the
various fanciers.

141

CHAPTER III.

SONG SPARROW. — Fringillafasciata.

This humble looking and sociable Finch,
more familiarly known by the appella-
tion of "Tom-tit," is an inhabitant of the
whole continent of North America, and
is one of the hardiest and most interest-
ing of his tribe.

His colour, though plain and monoto-
nous, being of a chestnut and greyish-
brown, is neat and handsome; and his
form, about the size of the Canary, taper
and graceful.

His musical talents, however, are great,
and amply recompense for his want of
beauty by their sweetness of sound and
long continuance, being given without any
intermission through the whole of the
year. His lay resembles, in cadence and
delivery, the sweetest passages of that of
the Canary; but is possessed of a depth of

142 SONG SPARROW.

warbling melody even surpassing that de-
lightful songster; while his sprightliness in
the cage is also of a more lively cast.
His song early in the spring, is very
vigorous and loud, continued from day-
break until even after dark in the evening;
but in the fall it becomes, as if the bird
sympathizing with the solemnity of the
scene around him, of a softer, more touch-
ing, and although of a lower, by far to
me of a more delicious and entrancing
character.

In confinement he may be treated in
every respect like the Canary-finch, to
whom he possesses a great affinity; occa-
sionally giving him any or all of the dif-
ferent kinds of grass-seed to be had in
the different s Bed-warehouses, on which,
in a state of nature, he almost entirely
depends for sustenance.

The Song Sparrow would likewise be an
important bird for the fancier to rear with
the Canary, to produce fine mules, which
may readily be done by observing the

SONG SPARROW. 143

rules laid down in section twelfth of the
division on the Canary-bird.

The following beautifully descriptive
lines on this sweet songster, are from the
pen of an excellent poet, who, though
scarcely known in that capacity by the
mass, still possesses much of the fire of a
true son of Parnassus.

To THE SONG SPARROW.

BY HENRY PICKERING.

Joy fills the vale,

With joy ecstatic quivers every wing,
As floats thy note upon the genial gale,

Sweet bird of spring!

The violet

Awakens at thy song, and peers from out
Its fragrant nook, as if the season yet

Remained in doubt

While from the rock,
The columbine its crimson bell suspends,
That careless vibrates, as its slender stalk

The zephyr bends.

144 SONG SPARROW.

Say! when the blast

Of winter swept our whitened plains, what clime,
What summer clime thou charm'dst, — and how
was past

Thy joyous time ?

0, well I know

Why thou art here thus soon, and why the bowers
So near the sun have lesser charms than now

Our land of flowers.

Thou art returned

On a glad errand, — to rebuild thy nest,
And fan anew the gentle fire that burned

Within thy breast.

And thy wild strain

Poured on the gale, is love's transporting voice —
That, calling on the plumy choir again

Bid them rejoice.

Nor calls alone

To enjoy, but bids improve the fleeting hour —
Bids all that ever heard love's witching tone

Or felt his power.

The poet, too,

It soft invokes to touch the trembling wire;
Yet, ah, how few its sounds shall list, how few

His songs admire!

YELLOW-BIRD. 145

But thy sweet lay,

Thou darling of the spring! no ear disdains;
Thy sage instructress, Nature, says, "Be gay!"

And prompts thy strains.

0, if I knew

Like thee to sing, like thee the heart to fire, —
Young should enchanted throng, and beauty sue

To hear my lyre.

Oft as the year

In gloom is wrapp'd, thy exile I shall mourn, —
Oft as the spring returns shall hail sincere

Thy glad return.

CHAPTER IV.

YELLOW-BIRD, OR AMERICAN GOLD-FINCH. —
Fringilla tristis.

The Thistle, or Lettuce-bird, as he is
sometimes called, is one of our most
cheerful and light-hearted songsters. Joy-
13

146 YELLOW-BIRD.

ous amidst the intense severity of the
winter, and equally gay beneath the scorch-
ing suns of our almost tropical summer,
he flits from field to field, and wood to
wood, in company with his merry com-
panions, a lovely emblem of intense happi-
ness! When on the wing, like the far,
faint and finely-drawn cadence of an
JEolian harp, his notes of conversation
are constantly heard, and while sitting on
some lowly thistle or devoted lettuce stalk,
he talks with a low, sweet, liquid voice to
his more humble and less noticed mate.

In the cage, for which he is readily
caught by means of trap-cages, he soon
becomes as familiar as the Canary or
English Goldfinch, and in that situation
his musical notes certainly rival, arid are
scarcely surpassed by the sonorous whistle
and trill of the former bird. His song is
at times gradually elevated, and then
softened in the most exquisite manner,
bursting in one instant into overpowering
melody, in the next dying away in a

YELLOW-BIRD. 147

fairy-like strain, which seems as if lost
in the distance; then reviving, it again
bursts forth with redoubled strength and
energy, and strikes at once into the
loudest fife of the before-mentioned song-
ster.

In confinement, his cage should be hung
outside of the window every sunny day,
as sun-light and fresh air are necessary
to the health and well being of this active
little bird. He should likewise be well
supplied with gravel, and a saucer of water
kept constantly in his cage, as he is espe-
cially fond of bathing.

The Yellow-bird is much attached to
rich and oily seeds, and should be reared
upon yellow, canary, millet and hemp,
with occasionally a little sun-flower and
lettuce-seed, which are always an excellent
addition to their fare. He is likewise
very fond of the leaves of the garden-
beet, lettuces and cabbages, together with
chick-weed, which can be obtained at all

148 YELLOW-BIRD.

seasons, and also of ripe fruits, such as
apples and pears.

He will readily, by observing the rules
before laid down, breed in confinement,
and would produce, if associated with the
Canary-finch, mules of the most valuable
character, both as regards plumage and
song.

The male Gold-finch is of a brilliant
lemon-yellow, with the crown of the head
and the wings and tail of a glossy raven
black; the two latter partially edged with
white.

These birds may readily be obtained in
the markets in the spring, where they are
brought in trap-cages, and sell as low as
twenty-five cents per pair.

PART III.

CARDINAL-BIRDS. — Cardinalis.

CHAPTER I.

CARDINAL GROSBEAK, OR RED-BIRD. — Car-
dinalis Virginiamts.

THIS truly magnificent songster, whose
loud and martial song and brilliant beauty
of plumage alike attract our admiration, is
a native of this continent, and is found in
its favourite localities in all parts of the
country, from New York to Florida. His
chief haunts are in low watery thickets, or
amid the swampy woods that margin the
waters of our rivers and small inland
streams, among which he builds his nest.
They are never found in any situation in
considerable numbers, but at most in
13*

150 CARDINAL GROSBEAK.

small families of five to seven, consisting
of the young birds of the preceding spring
and their parents. In the breeding season,
like all others of the Finch tribe, they are
perfectly solitary.

The Virginian Nightingale, as he is
styled in England and in some parts of the
Southern States, is nearly the size of the
Robin, and of a brilliant scarlet, which is
much brighter upon its breast and belly.
His head is ornamented with a lofty crest,
which is raised or depressed at pleasure,
while his bill, which is large and powerful,
is a soft and beautiful coral-red. The
only colour on his person differing from
the rest, and which is thrown into strong
relief by the brilliancy of his other plum-
age, is a circle of deep black passing
completely round his head at the base of
the bill. His eye is very expressive and
of a dark hazel, while his form is perfect
and graceful to a degree.

The song of the Cardinal, which even
in confinement is continued for six or eight

CARDINAL GROSBEAK.

months in the year, is no less striking than
his plumage, being composed of a clear,
loud and mellow whistle, varying in ca-
dence, and given without intermission for
a considerable length of time, and closely
resembling the tones of the human voice.
This, though the delivery is original and
striking, is composed partially of the notes
of other birds, which are remodelled in so
exquisite a manner, and so beautifully
executed, that it seems almost impossible
to determine to whom they originally
belonged. The lay of the Red-bird is,
however, possessed of a greater charm — a
rare and delicate pathos, enlivened by the
most brilliant and soothing touches known
to the feathered tribe. This change seems
the more astonishing, when we reflect that
his voice may be heard on a clear morn-
ing, with the greatest ease, at the distance
of a mile.

In confinement, for which he is taken
by means of trap-cages, the Cardinal
Grosbeak possesses all the sociability and

152 CARDINAL GROSBEAK.

gentleness of his race, becoming in a
short time as tame as a domesticated
Canary. Here he is highly esteemed and
ranks next to the Mocking-bird, than whom
he is far more beautiful, for power of song,
In retaining him in a cage, he should
be kept apart from the society of Cana-
ries, as they, struck with the character of
his notes, entirely lose their own in the
desire of imitation. The Red-bird is very
hardy, and may be kept in a room with-
out fire all winter, without the slightest
danger. He should be hung out, and
indulged with sun and air on all possible
occasions during winter, and in the sum-
mer season, with the exception of stormy
weather, remain permanently in the open
air.

They will breed in confinement if treat-
ed like the Canary; but require a very
large cage, or a small room, where they
must be very seldom disturbed during the
day, observing to supply them with food
and water after their retiring to rest.

CARDINAL GROSBEAK. 153

This is, however, unnecessary trouble, as
they may be readily obtained in our
principal markets during winter, where
they are constantly exposed for sale, at
the low price of one to two dollars each.

Their diseases, which are similar to the
Canary, though they are seldom taken
sick, may be treated in the same manner.
They live to a great age; a specimen
being preserved in the Philadelphia Mu-
seum collection which was kept by a
member of the Peale family for twenty-
one years, and which was probably three
or four years old when first obtained.

They should be fed on Canary-seed,
rough or unhulled rice, in which they
delight, millet-seed, diversified at times
with a little finely cracked corn, buck-
wheat and wheat; and occasionally, during
the severity of winter, with a little hemp-
seed. In the use of the latter, especially
in the autumn months, great care should
be taken; as the Red-bird has a tendency
to become very gross, and will oftentimes

154 CARDINAL GROSBEAK.

die from an accumulation of fat round the
wind-pipe. When he is thus affected, it
may be perceived by his uttering at inter-
vals a wheezing sound. He should then
have plenty of coarse brown gravel, which
should indeed at all times be kept in his
cage, and fed for a few days entirely upon
rape-seed, and after a week or so, upon
"rough rice" and corn. This will effect a
cure. A large pan of water should be
constantly kept in the cage, which last
should be large and roomy, to allow him
to bathe frequently; an amusement for
which he has a great predilection.

PART IV.

GROSBEAKS. — Coccothraustes.

CHAPTER I.

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. — Coccothraustes
ludovicianus.

THIS very rare and exquisitely plum-
aged bird, is another of the many beauti-
ful inhabitants of the western continent,
and is equally celebrated for the sweet-
ness of his warbling, his rareness, and the
singular variegation of his plumage. He
is like the Tanager, (Tanagra rubra,) a
summer visitant, and one that is little
known except to enterprising and perse-
vering naturalists.

His size is nearly that of the Robin,
and his general character black, with the
wings and outer tail feathers beautifully

156 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK.

margined with white. His breast is of a
brilliant rose-carmine colour, which passes
in the shape of a cone nearly down to the
vent; and the entirety of the inner wing-
coverts is of a beautiful bright rose. The
bill is of a soft flesh-white. The female
is of a dusky colour; but, as she is worth-
less for song, need not be fully described.

His song, which is continued in clear
weather during the whole of the day, is
melodious and brilliant beyond descrip-
tion, and is given in a warbling manner,
now loud, clear and distinct, then falling
into the most tender, low and pathetic
sweetness, again changing into the most
empassioned sprightliness, and abounding
in all the tender, mild and touching tones
of the English Nightingale. In fact, with
the single exception of our Mocking-bird,
he is the prince of songsters.

In the cage, where he is only occasion-
ally met with, he is one of the most deli-
cious of songsters, thriving as well and
even better than the Cardinal Grosbeak,

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. 157

and occasioning much less trouble. His
food is all the usual kinds of bird-seed,
which may be varied during their season,
with the different sorts of berries to be
obtained in our markets. He is particu-
larly fond of those of the "sour gum,"
which abound in the woods in the neigh-
bourhood of the city.

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak requires
to be kept in a warm and airy stove-room
during winter.

14

PART V.

PURPLE FINCHES. — ErytJirospizse.

CHAPTER I.

PURPLE FINCH, OR AMERICAN LINNET. —
Erythrospiza purpurea.

THIS beautiful, large and cheerful song-
ster, is also a native resident, though but
little known as a cage-bird in this section of
country. The colour of the male is a rich
dark crimson, which is deepest on the
upper part of the body, and his tail and
wings are of a dusky brown.

In the Eastern States the Linnet, as he
is there called, is a great favourite as a
song-bird, and brings very high prices.
He is caught in the spring and fall in
trap-cages.

His song, which strongly resembles in

PURPLE-FINCH. 159

sweetness and strength the delicious notes
of our Red-eyed Vireo, or Greenlet, ( Vireo
olivaceous^) is given in a wild state from
the summits of the tallest tulip-poplar
trees, (Liriodendron tulipiferaj) where the
bird is most commonly seen. It is there
poured forth for successive hours, without
any faltering, and scarcely a moment's
intermission for rest. When caged in the
same room with a Canary, the Purple
Finch's musical powers so far transcend
that songster, that a comparison would be
odious to our exquisite bird.

In the cage he may be given all the
seeds adapted for the Canary, with the
addition of sun-flower and hemp in the
fall and winter season, and plenty of
gravel and water. He is quite hardy.

BOOK II.

OMNIVOROUS BIRDS. — Omnivores.

CHAPTER I.

Of the general characteristics of Omnivorous
Birds.

THIS common and well known order
comprises in its range those birds with
whom we are every day familiar. Their
habits and manners differ more, and their
appearances as regards plumage and size
are more varied than those of any other
race of the feathered tribe. Some suspend
their nests by threads from limbs, where
they are subject to the sport of every
wind, others secure them firmly between
forks, and others again rest them on the
ground amid the shelter of bushes, or in
tussocks of long, rank grass. Some are

OMNIVOROUS BIRDS.

familiar as household words, seeking out
the society of man, while others are shy
and suspicious, living in the thickest
woods, and avoiding our habitations with
an apparent semi-reasoning power, as if
conscious of the dangers that awaited
them.

Omnivorous birds are gregarious in
their habits, with the single exception of
the breeding season, when some in single
pairs seek solitary situations, while others
build their nests in sociable connection,
and form a common community for each
other's protection.

Their plumage, with some exceptions, is
noted for its beauty or singularity, and
their song is generally more remarkable
for its loudness and power, than for any
softness or delicacy of execution. Many
of this order possess the power of mi-
micry to a considerable degree, and can
readily be taught to articulate words, and
even lengthy sentences.

When in confinement, they soon be-

162 OMNIVOROUS BIRDS.

come thoroughly domesticated and fami-
liar, and from their character, easily sup-
plied with food, which in a wild state is
composed of seeds of all kinds, insects,
worms, and frequently grain and fruits.

DIVISION I.

FOREIGN BIRDS.

PART I.

STARLINGS . — Sturni.

CHAPTER I.

EUROPEAN STARLING. — Sturnus vulgaris.

THE Starling, one of the most common
and numerous residents of England, and
indeed all Europe, is frequently brought to
this country, where he is highly esteemed
as a cage-bird, for his excellent qualities,
and sold for a high price.

The colour of the male bird is a deep
black, with rich metallic reflections, vary-
ing from golden-green to deep violet and

164 STARLING.

dark purple, constantly changing in ap-
pearance as the bird moves its position.
The whole body is likewise beautifully
dropped, or mottled with triangular star-
like spots, which are white on the breast
of the bird and cream-coloured on the
back. The bill is a bright yellow, the
eyes hazel, and the legs either yellow or
brown.

In a wild state the Starling is very
lively, whistling and chattering constantly,
and then somewhat resembles in habits
and manners our Red-winged Blackbird,
(Icterus prasdatorius.) There he associates
not only with his own kind, but with many
other varieties of birds. Changing as it
were his character in their society, he drops
his own peculiar note and with a ready
association to circumstances, whistles with
the Plover, chatters with the Jack-daw,
caws with the Crow and screams with the
Sea- fowl.

In the cage, his character is the same,
with an equally great fondness for imita-

STARLING. 165

tion. Here he may be easily taught to
repeat with exactness short phrases, and
even whole sentences; to warble tunes;
and to do many other semi-reasoning
feats. His song is likewise better in this /
situation than it is in his native fields or
woods.

His treatment may be the same as that
prescribed for our Red-wing in every par-
ticular. Giving to him grain, berries,
seeds and cherries, when the last are in
season, for he is remarkably fond of them.

PART II.

ORIOLES. — Icterii.

CHAPTER I.

ICTERIC ORIOLE, OR TROUPIAL. GOLDEN-
WINGED ORIOLE. — Icterus .

THE Icteric, which so closely resembles
the Golden-winged Oriole of South Ame-
rica, is a native of the East Indies, one
half larger in size and rather more bril-
liant in plumage than his brother, the
Baltimore-bird of this country. He pos-
sesses a greater power, though not the
same sweetness of song as the last.

The treatment both of this and the
Golden-winged Oriole, which although a
distinct species, is often mistaken for, and
bought as the Troupial, must be the same
as that prescribed for our lovely species.

ORIOLE.

He will likewise eat any kind of ripe fruits
and berries, which may be given to him
in their respective seasons. He is wholly
omnivorous.

The Orioles require to be kept very
warm during the winter season, to have
plenty of cage room, and to be constantly
supplied with water.

PART III.

CROWS. — Corvi.

CHAPTER I.

EUROPEAN JACK-DAW. — Corvus monedula.

Where the ruined turrets of the old
castellated buildings of England stand,
still mighty in decay, and beneath the
parapets of the Gothic churches and mo-
nasteries, as it were the sole monarch of
those homes of bygone chivalry and papal
pride, the Jack-daw sits and builds his
nest, while his hoarse chatter to his hun-
dred companions takes the place of the
trumpet-tone of the knight, the gay laugh
and jest of chivalric noblemen and lovely
demoiselles, the cry of the falconer as his
winged charge mounted high in the air in

JACK-DAW. 169

pursuit of the lordly Heron, or the holy
hymn of the priest and the chaunt of the
grey vestured and shaven monk at the
altar of the MOST HIGH. These have
passed away. Knight and noble, lady and
page, prior and priest, great and low, all,
all have sank into the grave, and none
wot now of their transient existence.
Yet, hovering amid the same scenes, the
Jack-daw still lives and moves the lord of
all, while the prouder and nobler of mor-
tality are forgotten.

The Jack-daw, though living in such
localities, and somewhat unsocial in his
habits, from the knowledge that man is
not one to trust, a knowledge which only
in the human breast is acquired after
many years of manly experience in the
world, is still a favourite with the farmers
and peasantry of his native land. There,
habited in his raven suit, with a plain ash-
grey mark upon the hind part of his head,
he strolls from field to field and wood to
wood, as much like one of the wandering
15

170 JACK-DAW.

Gitani in habit as any of the feathered
race can be.

On the old tower of Dundee, in Scotland,
full one hundred and fifty feet above the
level of the earth, and beneath the decay-
ing parapets, numbers of these birds even
now build their nests, and even here they
were once pursued by the adventurous
hand and cupidity of man. The hero of
this dauntless and dangerous feat, was
one Murray, a barber of the old town,
who, with a companion, undertook to rob
the Daws' nests. These could not be
reached from above, and the brave fellow
creeping through one of the slits, lowered
himself gradually down with one hand; he
was still a few feet from his object, when
he called to his companion to reach him
his bonnet and hold tight to it, while he
let himself by this means the further
length of his and his companion's arm.
He did so; and now, suspended between
heaven and earth, with only his and his
friend's hold on that frail article, he ba-

JACK-DAW.

lanced himself with his feet against the
perpendicular wall, and proceeded to fill
the bonnet above him with the young
birds. While in this perilous situation,
his companion asked "how many young
are in the nest?" "Five," was the answer.
"I must have three of them." "You shall
have no such thing," was Murray's deter-
mined response: "I have all the risk, and
you shall have but two." "Well! then I
will let go the bonnet." "If you do," said
the other," you shall have none of the
spoil!" His companion at last consented
to the arrangement, and the intrepid youth
soon stood in safety with his prey upon
the lofty summit of the old castle.

In a wild state the food of the Daw is
insects, grain and fruit; but in confinement
he will eat almost any thing, and may be
treated like the Crow, or Magpie. He is
easily tamed, may be taught to articulate
words and sentences, and become the
most docile of birds. For this purpose
he must be raised from the nest.

172 JACK-DAW.

He is only occasionally brought to this
country, where his price varies from three
to five dollars.

PART IV.
JAYS. — Garruli.

CHAPTER I.

EUROPEAN JAY. — Garrulus glandarius.

AMONG the whole imported tribe of
birds who are annually brought to our
shores, the European Jay stands con-
spicuous for his varied talents and the
neatness and indeed beauty of his plum-
age, of which some idea may be formed,
by those unacquainted with the bird, from
the following concise description.

His bill is black, and his eyes white.
His head is crested; but not so much so
as our Jay, or our Cardinal-bird. The
feathers which compose this ornament are
white, striped with black; and the whole
may be erected or depressed at the plea-

174 JAY.

sure of the bird. The body of the Jay is
a rich cinnamon colour, which is lighter
upon the breast than it is on the back.
The wings are beautifully marked with a
patch of brilliant azure, barred with black.

In a wild state, where he has the en-
tirety of the habits of our still lovelier-
looking species, his food is acorns, seeds,
nuts, fruits and the eggs and young of
other birds, of which he is immoderately
fond, and for which cannibal-like propen-
sity he is shot down on every occasion by
the game-keeper without mercy. In do-
mestication he may be treated like the
before-mentioned bird.

In the cage, like the rest of his order, he
is very familiar and docile, and will learn
sentences with the greatest ease. His
song, however, abounds more in loudness
and shrillness than it * does in sweetness
or delicacy of tone; but his talent for
imitating the louder-voiced birds and ani-
mals, is striking and peculiar; consisting
generally in close mimicry of the bleating

JAY. 175

of cattle, the calls of the domestic fowls,
the neighing of horses and the screaming
of geese. One of these birds was known to
imitate the sound of a saw so closely, that
though it was on a Sunday, listeners could
hardly be persuaded that his innocent
owner had not a carpenter at work in his
dwelling. Another bird had learned to
hound a dog upon cattle by whistling to
him and calling him by name; but he suf-
fered severely for his mischievous propen-
sity. On one occasion the dog, on a
frosty-day, impelled by the calls of the
Jay, pursued a cow that was big with
young, and the poor animal fell upon the
ice and was severely hurt. Her owner
immediately prosecuted the owner of the
bird for keeping a nuisance, and the poor
songster was compelled to be killed. In
the pronunciation of words, the Jay al-
ways succeeds best, as indeed do all birds
with those in which the letter R is most
frequent.

His prices vary in this country from ten

176 JAY.

to twenty dollars. He is very hardy in
habit, and will endure considerable cold
without injury.

DIVISION II.

NATIVE BIRDS.

PART I.

AMERICAN STARLINGS. — Sturnellse.

CHAPTER I.

AMERICAN STARLING, OR MEADOW-LARK. —
Sturnella ludoviciana.

THE first of this order, which we shall
touch upon, is the Meadow-lark, a well
known resident of old fields and marshy
meadows, at all seasons of the year, in
every section of the union. We give his
description, because we have occasionally
met with a specimen in the cage, where
he is valuable for his beauty of plumage

178 STARLING.

and the low and sweet, though melancholy
character of his song, which is given
during a considerable portion of the day,
and is, if any thing, rather monotonous.

The colours of this bird are plain, but
varied so much in their disposition as to
give him considerable beauty. The belly
and throat of the Lark are a bright yel-
low, while across his breast runs a regular
crescent of deep raven-black, with which
his back and wings are also spotted,
diversified with bright bay and ochreous-
yellow colours.

His habits, when wild, are shy and re-
tiring, except in the winter season, when
the driving snows force him to seek out
the neighbourhood of the habitations of
man, and even the public roads, where he
is hourly disturbed by the passage of
vehicles, while in the search of his scanty
meal. In the cage, he soon becomes
familiar, and may even be taught like his
prototype, the English Stare, or Starling,
to articulate various words.

STARLING. 179

In this situation he may be fed upon
the different kinds of bird and grass seeds,
with a large quantity of coarse gravel and
plenty of water, in which he is fond of
bathing. The Lark may occasionally be
obtained of our professional bird-fanciers.

PART II.

TR OUPI ALS . — Icterii.

CHAPTER I.

BALTIMORE ORIOLE, OR GOLDEN ROBIN. —
Icterus Baltimorus.

THIS singularly beautiful and interest-
ing bird, is a summer resident of the
whole western continent. As early as the
first of May, his loud fifing song may be
heard among the budding branches of the
forest oaks and kingly sycamores, or dis-
tinctly above the noisy din in the streets
and thoroughfares of our crowded city.
In either situation the Hanging-bird may
be seen darting about, full of life, activity
and joyousness, in the company of his less
richly marked mate, from twig to twig

BALTIMORE ORIOLE.

and limb to limb, in active pursuit of the
small beetles and different winged insects
which then form his principal nourishment.
All the while he converses with his mate,
or utters loud and harmonious notes of
gratulation, as he secures his agile and
alert prey.

The song of the Golden Robin, as he is
sometimes called, is loud, varied and in-
teresting, and strikes the ear of the listener
more like the shrill tone of the fife, min-
gled with the mellow breathings of the
flute, than the notes of a woodland
songster. It is likewise modulated in an
exquisite manner, and frequently consists
of an imitation of the 'sweetest and most
powerful notes of other birds, which the
Oriole follows with all the correctness of
an echo, astonishing his hearers with his
exactness and similarity. Indeed, so sin-
gular is this habit with the Hanging-bird,
that I much doubt whether he has any
original song of his own, and whether the
various melodies with which he delights
16

182 BALTIMORE ORIOLE.

our ears, are not the notes of tropical
American and West Indian birds, which
he has acquired during his winter sojourn
in those sections of the world. Be that
as it may, we have but few among our
cage-birds who possess the same manifold
attractions to our affections as the Balti-
more Oriole.

The colours of this lovely creature are
of a brilliant orange and glistening black,
with a few strips of white upon the wing.
From these he derives his name, since
they are the colours of the family of lord
Baltimore, the first proprietary of Mary-
land.

In confinement, for which he is readily
obtained by means of a trap-cage, he be-
comes extremely familiar and even play-
ful, coming at call, going in and out of
the house like one of the family, and
perching upon the neck or head of his fail-
owner, with an affectionate sociability.
His food in the cage should consist prin-
cipally of soaked wheaten bread, scalded

BALTIMORE ORIOLE.

Indian-meal, and fruits of all kinds, as
cherries, strawberries, currants, black and
whortle, or as they are vulgarly called,
huckleberries, and during the winter sea-
son, dried currants, raisins and figs. In-
sects of every kind may be added to his
fare.

Perhaps the best method of obtaining
the Oriole, would be to rear him from the
nest. This can be done with the greatest
facility. The food for this purpose should
be raw meats of different kinds, excepting
pork, which is indigestible, minced finely
and soaked in fresh sweet milk. This is
equally nutritious with the insect food
which he receives in a state of nature;
and it will cause the bird to grow as
vigorously as if he were raised by his
natural protectors.

When able to feed himself, the food
before recommended may be placed in his
cage, with the addition of sweet cakes, of
which he is immoderately fond.

The Oriole lives to a considerable age,

184 ORCHARD ORIOLE.

when properly treated. He should be kept
in the warmest room in the house during
the winter season, as he is extremely sus-
ceptible of cold.

CHAPTER II.

ORCHARD ORIOLE, OR HANGING-BIRD. — Ic-
terus spurius.

This handsome variety, so closely re-
lated to the preceding species in manner
and habits, visits the United States about
the same time, and continues with us about
four months. At the expiration of this
time, in company with small flocks of his
companions, he gradually departs to win-
ter in the more congenial temperature of
tropical America.

In the woods or orchards he is a most
sprightly, active and even restless bird,

ORCHARD ORIOLE. 135

now darting about on the highest branches
of trees, singing in a wild, hurried man-
ner, in pursuit of his prey; the next mo-
ment upon the ground searching among
the waving spears of grass for a favourite
insect.

His song is always so rapidly executed,
that it would be difficult to trace out a
resemblance to that of any other songster;
although he, like the Baltimore Oriole,
undoubtedly indulges in the talent of mi-
micry.

He may, like the same bird, be taken
in trap-cages, and raised like him from
the nest upon the same description of
food, to which may be added boiled or
swelled rice, of which he is, at times,
immoderately fond. He will likewise
greedily devour caterpillars, which, when
he is in a wild state, forms a principal
article of his food during the summer
season. He must be kept in a very warm
situation during the winter.

The colour of this singular and capri-

186 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD.

cious little songster is a rich, bright chest-
nut-red, with his tail and upper portion of
his body of a glossy black. His form is
slender and graceful, and his whole be-
haviour more sprightly and active, either
in the forest or the cage than that of any
other American bird.

CHAPTER III.

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. — Icterus prcedato-
rius.

This very common and well known bird
is closely allied to both the preceding
species, and occupies nearly the same
position among the birds of America, as
does the Stare, or Starling, in the Orni-
thology of Europe. They move together,
after the breeding season has terminated,
in large and densely formed flocks, which

RED- WINGED BLACKBIRD.

are frequently so numerous as to darken
the horizon.

The colour of the male is a glisten-
ing jet black, with the wing-coverts, or
shoulders of the wing, of a brilliant fiery-
scarlet, which is edged round on the lower
part by a series of feathers of a soft and
delicate cream-colour.

His song, which is given with the
greatest earnestness either in the cage or
his native marshes, consists of a strange
mixture of discordance and sweetness,
something between a chatter and a war-
ble, which constantly seem "agreeing to
disagree." Yet his notes have at times a
strange and if any thing, a sweet liquidity,
and at others a harshness of sound most
closely resembling the sawings of a file,
the creaking of a tavern sign upon its
rusty hinges, and the delicious melody
which arises during the interesting opera-
tion of frying a pan of eggs. In fact his
whole performance is a queer conglomera-

188 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD.

tion of sweetness and discordance of tone,
perfectly sui generis to this eccentric bird.

In confinement, for which he is easily
obtained, and in which he is frequently
found, he becomes in a short time very
playful and familiar, singing with great
volubility and performing a variety of
amusing tricks. One specimen, which was
in my own collection, used to, when the
cage was opened, fly to me and perch
upon my head, shoulder or hand, gently
stroking me with his bill; and another,
which belonged to a friend, was self-edu-
cated to an almost wonderful degree, dis-
playing talents and power of acquiring
knowledge, perfectly untaught, almost
equal to man himself.

This bird would at the commencement
of conversation by any of the family, or
when his owner, who read frequently
aloud, commenced that operation, though
sitting perfectly quiet before, interrupt
them, and entirely prevent any thing like
speaking with his intense volubility and

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 139

loudness of song. When he was scolded,
he would retire to the upper perch of his
cage, bristle out his feathers and utter the
words "poor Dick! poor Dick!" so pite-
ously that he was immediately forgiven
for his amusing fault. The talents of this
singular bird did not rest here. He imi-
tated everything which struck his ear.
The crowing of a cock was equal, though
in a minor key, to that of the tame "Ban-
tam," who strutted about in the neigh-
bouring yard; and the close imitation of
the mournful "coo" of the Pigeons, who
sat upon the adjacent roofs, was strikingly
accurate and beautiful.

Another of these birds, which I after-
wards possessed, owned an almost equal
degree of power, but was poisoned, before
he perfected his education, by a fellow
lodger in the house where I resided, who
complained that his early song prevented
him from sleeping.

Birds of this kind are frequently kept
by the fanciers, to whom they are brought

190 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD.

for sale by the "gunners," who wound
them in the wing, during the months of
September and October, in the large reed
marshes which line the borders of our
rivers.

Like the Oriole they are omnivorous,
but may be easily kept upon the different
kinds of seeds given to Canaries, and will
readily feed upon swelled rice, or buck-
wheat and oats, of which they are very
fond. During its season they may be
given an ear of green corn, which they
greedily devour. They should also be
well supplied with water in a pan, to allow
them to bathe, which they do several
times a day, flinging the liquid contents
over every part of the cage; and with a
sufficiency of gravel, which they use in
considerable quantities to promote diges-
tion.

They should be kept in a good sized
cage, and in a warm room in winter;
though they are able to endure considera-
ble cold.

PART III.

RICE BIRDS. — Dolichonices.

CHAPTER I.

REED-BIRD, OR RICE BUNTING. — Dolicho-
nyx oryzivora.

THIS interesting and vivaceous song-
ster, so well and familiarly known to the
epicure by its title of "Reed, or Butter-
bird," but more so to the residents of our
extensive tract of country from the sin-
gular nickname of "Bob-O-Link," being
given alike to itself and the favourite note
he utters, is an inhabitant during the sum-
mer and fall months of the entirety of our
continent.

When he first arrives in the spring, he
takes up his quarters on the low and

192 REEp-BIRD.

marshy meadow lands, and among the
thickets which line the margins of our
large rivers, inland creeks and water
courses, which seem alive with melody of
the clearest, most liquid, interesting and
delightful character. To describe the
song of this bird would be doing him
injustice, so varied and so striking are
the cadences which at once delight and
astonish the listener. Perched upon some
low bush, or tussock of grass, near their
mates, hundreds of male birds may be
seen and heard at one time, as they rend
the air with a wild incongruity of sweet
sounds, which ascend mingling in harmony,
a seeming hymn of innocent votaries to
the beneficent God of Nature!

The plumage of this bird in his season
of song, is no less singular and beautiful
than his musical powers, being of a rich
glossy black, with a perfect crescent on
the back of the head, of a rich mellow
cream-colour, while the lower portion of
his back and his wing-coverts are a pure

In tEe cageTin which, during later
years, they have arrived to be great fa-
vourites, they become at once the liveliest,
most agreeable and sociable of compa-
nions, constantly delighting the ears with
their rich and ever varying profusion of
song, which is given from daylight until
sunset with scarcely any intermission.
Here they have another excellent quality,
in which they differ from most other song-
birds, which is that they sing well in com-
pany, exciting each other to rivalry and
emulation for hours and hours together.

Some of the various notes, though it is

difficult to describe them from the rapidity

with which they are delivered, strongly

resemble the pronunciation of words and

17

meet, meet," in a most ludicrous manner.
Nuttall, in his excellent "Manual of Orni-
thology," gives many other sentences
which they repeat in the course of their
song during their continuance in a wild
state. These, although the fact may ap-
pear strange, approximate as closely to
the character of this bird's strain of song,
as words can imitate; and are usually
uttered when flying on the wing near his
mate, who is sitting on her nest in some
overgrown tussock. "Tom Denny! Tom
Denny! come-and-pay-me-the-two-and-six-
pence-you've- owed- me- more-than-a-year-
and-a-half-ago !"

They may readily be kept in the cage
upon canary-seed alone, or on a mixture

REED-BIRD. 195

of the various kinds, with the exception of
hemp, which is always injurious to them;
gravel and a profusion of water should be
constantly supplied, as they are fonder of
diving and washing than any other cage-
bird.

I am fully satisfied that they will breed
readily in confinement, in a room; and will
even, as I have myself seen, actually pair-
with the hen Canary, though twice the
size of that favourite little bird. This ex-
periment was very successfully tried with
one of these birds and a female of the
before-mentioned species, in a collection
kept by Mrs. Welden, the former matron
of the Philadelphia Hospital at Blockley;
who, as I regret to learn, lost all the mule-
birds, by one of the diseases which attack
the young in the moulting season. Those
which I saw at different periods were a
strange intermixture, between the two
parents, partaking of the colours of both,
but with the bill, form and claws closely
resembling the Rice-bird. I have no

196 REED-BIRD.

doubt, had they lived, they would have
been wonderful for their powers of song,
as well as strangeness of plumage. The
disease of which they perished I believe
was "surfeit," which was caused from
their being fed entirely upon Indian-meal
paste, owing to the difficulty of obtaining
canary-seed during the summer of 1841.

They should be kept in a comfortable
room during winter, carefully guarding
them from draughts of air at the periods
of their moult, which occur every spring
and fall.

They may readily be obtained in any of
our markets, at the low prices of from 37 J
to 50 cents each, during the summer and
fall, or of some of our fanciers, who have
accustomed them to the cage, at one or
two dollars each.

PART IV.

CROWS. — Corvi.

CHAPTER I.

AMERICAN CROW. — Corvus Americana.

THIS well known bird is an inhabitant
of the greater portion of, if not of the
whole world, and is frequently met with
in a state of domestication. For this pur-
pose he is raised from the nest, and soon
becomes as familiar as a chicken, regard-
ing man as a friend, and approaching him
without the slightest hesitation or fear.

We extract the following close descrip-
tion of his character from Nuttall's excel-
lent Manual of Ornithology. This learn-
ed naturalist says; "the Crow is easily
raised and domesticated, and soon learns
17*

198 CROW.

to distinguish the different members of the
family with which he is associated. He
screams at the approach of a stranger;
learns to open the door by alighting on
the latch; attends regularly at meal times;
is very noisy and loquacious; imitates the
sound of various words which he hears; is
very thievish, given to hiding curiosities
in holes and crevices, and is very fond of
carrying off pieces of metal, corn, bread
and food of all kinds; he is also particu-
larly attached to the society of his mas-
ter, and recollects him sometimes after a
long absence."

He is perfectly omnivorous, eating
greedily of any substance, whether animal
or vegetable, which is offered to him by
his owner. He lives to an extraordinary
age.

PART V.

MAGPIES. — Piece.

CHAPTER I.

MAGPIE. — Pica melanoleuca.

THIS bird, familiar as a household word
to every inhabitant of England, is, though
one of the commonest residents of the
western section of this continent, only
occasionally met with in the houses of
our citizens, and then only when they
have been brought from Europe.

His plumage is a deep velvety-black,
with the belly and upper portion of the
wings of a glossy snow-white, which gives
to the bird a singularly striking appear-
ance.

His musical powers are naturally very

200 MAGPIE.

slight; but he possesses a talent of imita-
tion which renders him an immense fa-
vourite. This includes nearly every thing
which the Pie hears, now following the
"moo" of the Cow, then running into the
different notes of various song-birds, or
uttering the cluck of the chicken, and so
on through an almost tedious catalogue
of sounds.

In confinement he is very sociable,
running in and out of the house, perching
upon the backs of the cattle, and making
himself feared and respected by the do-
mestic animals, as dogs and cats, with
whom he associates himself, playing upon
them numerous tricks with a strange kind
of familiarity. His power of acquiring
language is very great, fully equalling if
not surpassing that of the Parrot, for he
will store together sentence after sentence
which he hears, repeating them from time
to time, with the same decision in which
they were spoken and with great clear-
ness and beauty.

MAGPIE. 201

He is, however, to counterbalance his
good qualities as great a thief as the crow,
of whom we have before spoken. Some
of his thefts are historical. One of
these is told in the almost fatal story of
the "Magpie and the Maid," which has
been the foundation of so many dramas
and operas, frequently performed in the
theatres of America and Europe.

The Magpie is kept with little difficulty,
as he will live upon every thing given to
him, no matter of what character. He
lives to an extremely great age, some say
two hundred years, on which belief a
laughable anecdote occurred. A student
of one of the English colleges, who was
seen taking a young Pie which he had
bought, to his apartment, was met and
asked by one of his tutors, his reason for
having made the purchase. He replied he
had heard it stated "that Magpies lived
two centuries, and so had bought one, in
order to test the truth of the assertion!"

PART VI.
JAYS. — Garruli.

CHAPTER I.

BLUE JAY. — Garrulus cristatus.

THE Blue Jay, so poetically entitled by
Audubon "The fop of the forest," is a well
known inhabitant, in a wild state, of the
extensive forests of the whole of North
America; and is frequently seen as a cage-
bird in our inland and larger cities.

His colour is by far his best recommen-
dation; since his song, though in some
particulars sweet, is more noisy than har-
monious. In confinement, he becomes
almost entirely changed; and he, like his
close relatives in manners and habits, the
Jack-daw, Magpie, Crow — and his proto-

BLUE JAY. 9Q3

type the British Jay, becomes noted for
his imitative talent, which in some few
cultivated instances is scarcely inferior to
that of the Mocking-bird; and he be-
comes so sociable and familiar, that he
may be allowed to travel over the house.
He is equally as notorious for pilfering and
hiding every thing in his reach as his
above-mentioned kinsmen.

In the cage, the Jay may be fed upon
seeds of different kinds, as canary and
hemp, of which latter, from its oily cha-
racter, he is extremely fond, and any other
substance, animal or vegetable. The first
had better be chopped fine, and the latter
cooked. Eggs, when given to him, must
be boiled hard. He is likewise partial to
chestnuts, acorns and maize, or Indian-
corn, either in a green or dry state, which
in the last instance, he invariably breaks
before swallowing.

The Blue Jay may occasionally be ob-
tained of our bird-fanciers, or be reared
from the nests, which may always be found

204 BLUE JAY-

within a few miles of the city. When
thus raised he must be fed upon raw beef,
veal, mutton or lamb, chopped fine and
soaked in milk. He should be allowed a
profusion of water and an abundance of
gravel.

BOOK III,

INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. — Insectivores.

CHAPTER I.

On the general characteristics of Insectivorous
Birds.

THE birds of this order are not so highly
celebrated for docility as those of the
granivorous or omnivorous tribes, per-
haps because but few attempts have been
made on their education. Yet we have
no doubt they are equally as susceptible
of that process as the others, though un-
doubtedly it would prove a more difficult
task, owing to the natural wildness of the
order, and the difficulty and in many
instances impossibility of breeding them
in confinement.
18

206 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS.

The song of the generality of birds be-
longing to this tribe, is in common har-
monious and agreeable, and in some few
instances, as in the Mocking and Minor-
birds, the Nightingale and the various
species of the Thrushes, surpasses any
thing like rivalry. Their food in a state
of nature, consists principally and almost
wholly of insects, and entirely so during
the period of incubation. To this is added
berries of various kinds, but we ourselves
are certain, and in that opinion are sup-
ported by the most distinguished natural-
ists, that these are only and occasionally
used as an aliment, when insects are
scarce and difficult to be procured.

In the wild state many of the species
rear several broods, generally not more
than two, during a season, dwelling indis-
criminately in woods and thickets, the
neighbourhood of the farm-house, or
among reeds, where they are always
found in solitary pairs. In the time
of migration, in autumn, some kinds

INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 201

depart in large flocks, while others leave
singly and in an almost imperceptible
manner. On this and indeed on almost
every continent, with the single exception
here of the Robin, they are extremely
tender, leaving us before, or about the
time of the commencement of frosts.

DIVISION I.

FOREIGN BIRDS.

PART I.

THRUSHES. — Turdi.

CHAPTER I.

EUROPEAN BLACKBIRD. — Turdus merula.

THIS beautiful and highly appreciated
bird is at once the largest, and one of the
sweetest songsters of his tribe, which are
found in confinement. His song, which is
clear and thrillingly sweet in its cadences,
strongly resembles the mellow breathings
of the flute; and is heard from the summit
of a tall bush or tree, from among the low
thickets which he frequents, and which

EUROPEAN BLACKBIRD. 2Q9

line the lane sides or farm-fences in his
native country. This is given principally
from day-dawn until near mid-day, and
abounds in spirit and variety.

In the cage, where he is highly esteem-
ed, he becomes very docile, and may be
readily taught to whistle tunes, which he
does with the greatest clearness and preci-
sion. Here, he is a greater favourite thaji
the Thrush; but from his pugnacious
character, he should never be associated
with other birds, it being proper to keep
him always alone, and in a large and
roomy cage. In a collection of birds,
from his peculiar character, the soft mel-
low song of the Blackbird is particularly
distinct among the sharp trilling voices
peculiar to the family of Finches.

The treatment of this songster must be
the same as that prescribed hereinafter for
the Mocking-bird, both as regards food
and the cure of disease.

The Blackbird may frequently be ob-
tained from our best fanciers, or from the
18*

210 THRUSH.

mates and sailors of European trading
vessels. Their prices vary from ten to
twenty dollars.

The colour of the male is wholly black,
with the bill, mouth and eye-lids of a deep
yellow. The female is a brown colour,
which is rusty in appearance on her breast
and belly. The bill is likewise dusky and
the legs are brown.

CHAPTER II.

EUROPEAN, OR ENGLISH THRUSH. — Turdus
musicus.

The Irish or English Thrush, as he is
most commonly called in this country,
and in his own indifferently the Mavis, the
Throstle, or the Song Thrush, is one of
the most delicious songsters in existence.
He is easily distinguished among all other

THRUSH.

birds,' by the superior clearness and ful-
ness of his note, which is charming, not
only for its concentrated sweetness, but
for its constantly changing variety. His
song is given in a wild state from a very
early portion of the spring to the latter
part of the summer, and is continued
throughout the greater part of the day;
though, as with most other birds, his notes
possess more power and depth in the early
part of the morning.

In England, as a cage-bird, with the
exception of the Nightingale, he is the
most esteemed of all the British songsters;
although possessing less romance of cha-
racter than that bird, yet his song has
more of that rustic vigour and matter of
fact than the latter owns, who as it were
possesses the refinement and beauty of
cultivated, while the other abounds in that
of uneducated genius. These two song-
sters, in comparison, may be called the
Pope and Burns of the feathered race.

His treatment should be the same as

212 THRUSH.

that of the Mocking-bird. His prices
vary from six to fifteen dollars in this
country, entirely on account of greater or
less richness or vigour of voice. The
native notes of this bird are so fine, that
although he is capable of acquiring, he is
never taught airs, which in this case
would be really a sacrilegious perversion
of nature.

His colours are very similar to, but
deeper than those of our Wood Thrush,
(Turdus melodus^) a songster of rich
and sweet, but melancholy tone of voice.
These are a reddish-brown on the upper
part of the body, while the breast and
sides of the bird are beautifully and regu-
larly marked with spots of a dark brown,
on a creamy-white ground. The throat
is pure white, and the eye of the bird
hazel, remarkable for its vivacity of ex-
pression.

213

CHAPTER HI.

MINOR-BIRD. — Turdus minor.

This large and handsome East Indian
bird, is frequently found in this country,
to which he is brought by our "homeward-
bound" vessels, and where he brings ex-
travagant prices. He is a true Thrush in
all his manners and habits, and is equally
celebrated for the loudness and almost
overpowering vivacity of his song, for the
ease and beauty with which he imitates
the songs of different birds and musical
composition, and for his talent for ac-
quiring knguage.

In the cage he is likewise easily kept,
being fed upon the same food as our
Thrushes and Mocking-birds, and is as
docile and affectionate to his owner and
the different members of the family, whom
he soon learns to distinguish. Here he

214 MINOR-BIRD.

requires plenty of water for bathing, and
an abundant supply of gravel.

A fine song-bird of this species is worth
from twenty to fifty dollars.

PART II.

WARBLERS. — Sylvia.

CHAPTER I.

ROBIN, OR RED-BREAST. — Sylvia rubicola.

THIS favourite and familiar little bird,
known to almost every reader as the
Robin Red-breast of the story of the
"Babes in the Wood," is another native
of Europe, who we only occasionally see
in confinement in this country. In Eng-
land, he is everywhere held in respect
and esteem, and is known by the most
endearing appellations. There, where he
is quite hardy, he becomes so sociable in
winter as to tap at the window and claim
the protection of man. Entering the house
and perching upon the table, he seeks out

216 ROBIN.

for crumbs to enable him to sustain life;
or hops around the door, and finds his
food in social community with the domes-
tic fowls. We extract a passage from a
well known author, illustrating the pecu-
liarity of character in this bird.

"The Red-breast sacred to the household gods,
Wisely regardful of the embroiling sky
In joyless fields and thorny thickets leaves
His shivering mates, and pays to trusted man
His annual visit. Half afraid, he first
Against the window beats; then brisk alights
On the warm hearth; then, hopping o'er the floor,
Eyes all the smiling family askance,
And pecks, and starts, and wonders where he is;
'Till more familiar grown, the table crumbs
Attract his slender feet."

His colours though not beautiful, are
neat and striking, he being a rich brown
on the upper part of the body, and on the
head, which passes off into a greenish-
olive shade; while the breast and throat
are reddish-orange, varying into a pure
white on the lower extremities.

ROBIN. 217

He is easily kept on the same food
as our Mocking-bird, and becomes very
social, coming at call and perching him-
self upon his owner's hand and singing at
the word of command.

19

PART III.

NIGHTINGALES. — Currucce.

CHAPTER I.

ENGLISH NIGHTINGALE. — Curruca luscinia.

OF all birds, this little favourite pos-
sesses the greatest reputation as a song-
ster. Inhabiting the whole of the Euro-
pean and Asiatic continents, he is every-
where the theme of the poet's empassioned
song, and the object of attachment.
Shakspeare and Byron of the west, and
Hafiz, Ferdousi and the thousand other
poets of the east, have elevated the
"Bulbul of a thousand songs" into a kind
of god-like immortality. With the rose
among flowers, the Nightingale is asso-
ciated among birds, and if all the descrip-

NIGHTINGALE. 219

tions which poets and historians have
given to us of this wonderful songster be
true, he well deserves his pre-eminence.

His song is said to commence at sun-
set, when all the rest of the world is
slowly sinking into silence; and, as the
last rays of the red-sun fall on the moun-
tain tops, and the crested coronals of the
lofty forest trees, crowning them as it
were with a halo of flame, it rises in its
fullest perfection. Then, the Nightingale
from his perch, warbles on until the God
of day rises in the east. His song is at
once most melodious and expressive, now
swelling into loudness and splendour of
tone, it the next instant sinks into the
most soothing softness and exquisitiveness
of expression; or, is low, faint and mur-
muring as the last dying tones of a far
distant echo, and then bursting into vio-
lent and rapid articulation, he breathes at
once anger, passion, love, delight and joy,
in the constant and ever varying changes
which he pours out, like water ever gush-

220 NIGHTINGALE.

ing from a spring, on the ear of night.
How beautiful is Byron's description of
the song of this bird, in his never-to-be-
forgotten "Bride of Abydos!"

"The live-long night there sings

A bird unseen — but not remote:
Invisible his airy wings,
But soft as harp that Houri strings

His long enchanting note!
It were the bulbul; but his throat

Though mournful, pours not such a strain:
For they who listen cannot leave
The spot, but linger there and grieve

As if they loved in vain!
And yet so sweet the tears they shed,
'Tis sorrow so unmixed with dread,
They scarce can bear the morn to break

That melancholy spell,
And longer yet would weep and wake,

He sings so wild and well!
But when the day-blush bursts from high
Expires that magic melody !

And again how powerful, and yet how
sweet, is the tale of the Prince Menaphon
to his cousin Amethus, in Ford's (one of

NIGHTINGALE. 221

the old English poets,) "Lovers' Melan-
choly."

"Men. I day by day frequented silent groves
And solitary walks. One morning early
This accident encountered me: I heard
The sweetest and most ravishing contention
That art and nature ever were at strife in.

•P-
•Amet. I cannot yet conceive what you infer

By art and nature ?

Men. I shall soon resolve you.

A sound of music touch'd mine ears, or rather,

Indeed, entranced my soul: as I stole nearer,

Invited by the melody, I saw

This youth, this fair faced youth, upon his lute,

With strains of strange variety and harmony,

Proclaiming, as it seemed, so bold a challenge

To the clear choristers of the woods, the birds,

That, as they flock'd about him, all stood silent,

Wond'ring at what they heard. I wonder'd too.

Jlmet. And so do I; good! on —

Men. A Nightingale,

Nature's best skill'd musician, undertakes

The challenge, and for every several strain

222 NIGHTINGALE.

The well shaped youth could touch, she sung her

own;

He could not run division with more art
Upon his quaking instrument, than she,
The Nightingale, did with her various notes
Reply to; for a voice, and for a sound,
Amethus, 'tis much easier to believe
That such they were, than hope to hear again.

*flmet. How did the rivals part?

Men. You term them rightly;

For they were rivals, and their mistress, har-
mony.
Some time thus spent, the young man grew at

last

Into a pretty anger, that a bird
Whom art had never taught cliffs, moods, or

notes,

Should vie with him for mastery, whose study
Had busied many hours to perfect practice:
To end the controversy, in a rapture
Upon the instrument he plays so swiftly,
So many voluntaries and so quick,
That there was curiosity and cunning,
Concord and discord, lines of differing method
Meeting in one centre of full delight.

Jlmet. Now for the bird.

NIGHTINGALE. 223

Men. The bird ordained to be

Music's first martyr, strove to imitate

These several sounds; which, when her warbling

throat

Fail'd in, for grief, down dropped she on his lute,
And brake her heart!

We clip from the ably edited "Inquirer"
of May 23, 1842, the following notice ofthe
death, in a similar manner to Ford's grace-
ful description, of one of these delightful
birds in Richmond, Virginia. Who can
now say that poetry is not the eloquence
of truth.

"One of the admired Nightingales we
spoke a few days ago of having been in-
vited to hear, sang itself to death one or
two mornings since. The two were in
separate cages, suspended, one in the
porch, the other in an adjacent room.
They appeared to be engaged in a trial of
their musical powers, and were exerting
all their strength, rattling their wings,
ruffling their feathers, jumping about their
cages, varying and swelling their songs,

224 NIGHTINGALE.

until the whole air seemed filled with the
sweet volumes they uttered. This they
continued for some time, when one of
them fainted away and died. His little
heart seemed to have swelled with the
spirit of song until it bursted, and his soul
passed away. It was truly touching to
see the sweet warbler die thus, in the
midst of his song — and it was not wholly
unnatural to indulge a faint idea, that so
sweet a vocal strain did not end with the
little bird. It was strongly calculated to
inspire credulity in the metempsychosis, —
and may not the spiritual part of this ex-
traordinary feathered vocalist yet inhabit
the body of some Malibran? Who knows?"
"The above is from the Richmond Com-
piler. We regard it as touching and beau-
tiful. The incident would form a fine
theme for a poet. The Death Song of the
Nightingale! The disembodied spirit of
Mrs. Hemans, or of Miss Laiidon, should
be invoked for such a strain! Daughters
of genius, who may forget them! They

NIGHTINGALE. 225

also expired amidst the sounds of their
own melody. The gift of poetry was to
them like the power of music to the ambi-
tious bird. They soared away from earth
and earthly things — on — on — through the
blue depths of a world of their own crea-
tion. May we not hope that as the im-
mortal parted from the mortal, the former,
as angelic spirits, passed into a holier and
heavenlier state, and became beings of a
world where all is music, and poesy, and
praise, and harmony."

The accompanying elegant comments
in the concluding paragraph, are from the
pen of one of our most gifted and graceful
poets, Robert Morris, of Philadelphia, who,
though possessed of fire and genius suf-
ficient for a far more arduous task, in-
vokes the spirits of the hallowed dead to
breathe forth such a strain. These and
their golden lyres are now breathing a
purer melody in a better world, but we,
though possessing none of their talents, in
all modesty accept the challenge, and pre-

926 NIGHTINGALE.

sent our readers with the following trifling
poem.

THE DEATH OF THE NIGHTINGALE.

Forth in that last glad strain !

Thy swelling soul burst forth and fled away,
While on the earth reposed

Thy silent clay.

'Twas sweet, full sweet to die

Amid the music of thine own glad heart;
To burst the chords of life

And so depart.

But where, sweet one ! oh ! where

Hath fled thy gentle soul? Unto that heaven,
Where rose thy hymn so sweet,

At close of even ?

Or in some kindred form

Doth it repose, 'till twilight's quiet hour
Shall call it forth again,

With sweeter power?

Or 'mid the scenes so loved,

Dost thou now wander on ethereal wing,
And through the moon-lit groves,

Flit sorrowing? —

NIGHTINGALE. 227

When in the deep midnight

My steps have wandered 'neath the arching

trees,
Oft have I heard sweet sounds

Float on the breeze.

And then, enwrapt, I thought

Them lays of disembodied souls of those
Whose sylvan songs to God

All pure uprose!

Perchance, whene'er again

I seek the woods, upon my wond'ring ear
May fall thy spirit song,

In accents clear. —

Thine was a hapless end;

For like to fire, thy love of song consumed
Thy own pure heart, and thou

Didst die self-doomed!

Thine was the death of those

Who seek for earthly fame, and wildly crave
Men's worship here, but find

A nameless grave.
Better to look on high,

With hopes and thoughts to One, Almighty

given,
And immortality

Is thine in heaven!

228 NIGHTINGALE.

In the cage, the Nightingale may be
treated like any of the Thrush tribe. For
this purpose he is generally raised from
the nest, or caught in nets, or trap-cages,
or by means of limed twigs. The first
are ever the best birds.

His price in America is from forty to
sixty dollars, and even at that, though
seemingly exorbitant, obtained with diffi-
culty.

DIVISION II,

NATIVE BIRDS.

PART I.

MOCKING-THRUSHES. — Mimi.

CHAPTER I.

MOCKING-BIRD. — Mimus poly glottis.

THIS every where esteemed and beauti-
ful Thrush, whose musical talents are so
highly appreciated in this country and
Europe, is a native bird, unrivalled for
grandeur and power of song by any other
in the known world. He is found in his
natural condition from the state of Penn-
sylvania to the Rocky Mountains; in fact,
20

230 MOCKING-BIRD.

he is seen from the Atlantic to the Paci-
fic Ocean as far south as the interior of
Brazil. He is occasionally now, though
rarely, seen in the vicinity of Philadelphia,
whence he has been gradually driven by
a constant pursuit, which arose from the
great price constantly demanded and ob-
tained for him, from the fancier. In fact,
from this cause, scarcely a square in any
one of our large cities has not at least
one, and frequently as many as a dozen
cages, suspended from the windows of
gentlemen's mansions.

It would be unnecessary in our limited
work to describe the appearance of this
bird, which is more remarkable for plain-
ness and intelligence than for any extra-
ordinary beauty. In the cage as well as
in the wood, his every motion is ease and
gracefulness itself, combined with a light-
ness and rapidity of motion which is
amusing to the spectator, from its resem-
blance to caprice and an apparent co-
quettishness of demeanour.

MOCKING-BIRD. 231

Now, with his head bent upon one side,
and an arch and shrewd expression light-
ing up his eye, he is seated almost mo-
tionless upon his perch, quietly gathering
the sounds which arise to his elevated
position from the street beneath. In an
instant he is changed, "and such a
change !" — With outspread wings ^ and
flirted tail, he flits from side to side and
perch to perch, like an empassioned but
earnest troubadour, pouring forth Kis
whole soul in song.

In a wild state, his notes, from the ten
thousand opportunities constantly offered,
are much finer than in a state of domesti-
cation. There, where the wild hymns of
the forest choir are constantly ringing in
his ears, he has ample scope for his imita-
tive powers. The song which these pro-
duce is unsurpassed except by his native
notes, which are replete with vigour,
boldness, sweetness, energy and constant
and inimitable variation. In the forest,
like the leader of an orchestra, or some

232 MOCKING-BIRD.

accomplished musician, he sits upon a
lofty twig, with the whole feathered race
around pouring out their varied perform-
ances, as an accompaniment to his song;
forming on the whole, one of the grandest
overtures which the human mind is capa-
ble of appreciating. These wild notes of
his own are noted for their expression and
beauty, and consist of short sentences of
two, or three, or four syllables, which are
mingled with imitations, and given with
such ardour as to fill the breast of the
listener with admiration.

But in the cage, to which he soon be-
comes accustomed, he is better known as
a songster. Here, fully as happy as in
his woodland home, his intelligence and
genius have ample scope; and he spreads,
by their exertion, a feeling of joy and hap-
piness around. Day by day, and night by
night, he is unceasing in his song; cloudy
or clear weather is the same to him; he is
the Shakspeare of nature, and his genius
never sleeps. I have set in my chamber

MOCKING-BIRD. 233

many a morning, when the first tints of
light were struggling into being, in the
grey and misty looking east, while the
stars were yet peering from their shadowy
homes down on the quiet abodes of man,
and raising my window suffered the cool
breeze to steal through my heated apart-
ment. Suddenly, while I sat in reverie,
the distant scream of an eagle burst on
my ear, and I started up, putting aside
the branches of flowers which stood on
the window-ledge, and gazed far away
round the blue horizon to catch a glimpse
of the royal bird. Then came the mellow
song of the Robin, the "hear beauty, hear,"
of the Blue-bird, the fifing "whittoo, wittu,
vittu," of the Scarlet Cardinal, and the
shrill cry of the Kildeer, "killdee, killdee,"
which is given as it flutters wildly around
the head of the intruder in the vicinity of
his nest. Then came the "weet-weet" of
the Spotted Sandpiper, followed in the
same breath by the hoarse guttural "caw,
caw," of the Crow, and then the low,
20*

234 MOCKING-BIRD.

sweet melody of the Wren, which in an
instant changed to the parental "cluck,
cluck" of the hen, gathering her young
around her. Then "whirr, whirr," went a
watchman's rattle, "bow, wow, wow," the
yelp of a dog, "meow, meow, phits, pints,"
the fighting of a pair of cats, "uh! wee!
uh! wee!" the grunt of some antiquated
porker, and then the concert closed with
the rich and mellow whistle of the Brown
Thrush, dying away . in the distance.
Such was my morning's amusement for
weeks and weeks together, listening to
the lay of the Mock-bird, and tracing out
song after song as they were uttered, to
the original source, from which they were
first derived.

But prose, plain prose is unequal to the
task of giving an idea of the capabilities
of this feathered Orpheus of our forest,
and we turn to a lay of one of our gifted
poets, which can better speak in the em-
passioned language of song, those powers

MOCKING-BIRD. 335

which our own pen would be feeble to
describe.

To THE MOCKING-BIRD.

BY FRANCIS COSBY, JR.

Bird of the wild and wondrous song!

I hear thy rich and varied voice,
Swelling the greenwood-depths among

Till gloom and silence, pleased, rejoice !
Spell-bound, entranced in rapture's chain,
We list to that inspiring strain!
We tread the forest's tangled maze,

The thousand choristers to see,
Who mingled thus their voices raise,

In that ecstatic minstrelsy.
We search in vain, each pause between,
The choral band is still unseen.

'Tis but the music of a dream,

Such as doth oft our slumbers cheer;

But hark again! the eagle's scream!
It rose and fell distinct and clear!

And list, in yonder hawthorn bush,

The red bird, robin, and the thrush!

236 MOCKING-BIRD.

Lost in amaze we look around,
Nor thrush nor eagle there behold!

But still that rich aerial sound,
Like some forgotten song of old,

That o'er the heart hath held control,

Falls sweetly on the ravished soul.

And yet the woods are vocal still,

The air is redolent with song —
Up the hill-side, above the rill

The wild'ring sounds are borne along!
But where, ye viewless minstrels! where
Dwell ye? on earth or upper air?
High on a solitary bough,

With glancing wings and restless feet,
Bird of untiring throat art thou,

Sole songster in this concert sweet!
So perfect, full and rich each part,
It mocks the highest reach of art!

Once more, once more, that thrilling strain!

Ill-omen'd owl, be mute, be mute!
Thy native notes I hear again!

More sweet than harp or lover's lute !
Compared with thy impassion'd tale,
How cold, how tame the nightingale!
Alas ! capricious is thy power,

Thy 'wood note wild' again is fled;

MOCKING-BIRD. 337

The mimic rules the changeful hour,

And all the soul of song is dead !
But no ! to every borrow'd tone,
He lends a sweetness all his own.

On glittering wing, erect and bright,

With arrowy speed he darts aloft,
As though his soul had ta'en its flight,

In that last strain so sad and soft — ^
And he would call it back to life,
To mingle in the mimic strife.
And aye in every fitful lay

His frame in restless motion wheels,
As though he would indeed essay

To act the ecstacy he feels;
As though his very feet kept time
To that inimitable chime.

And ever as the rising moon

Lifts her bright orb the trees above,

He chants his most melodious tune

While echo makes through all the grove;

Perched on the topmost bough he sings,

Till all the forest loudly rings!

The sleeper from his couch starts up
To listen to that lay forlorn,

238 MOCKING-BIRD.

And he, who quaffs the midnight cup,
Looks out to see the purpling morn.
Oh! ever in the merry spring,
Sweet mimic, let me hear thee sing!

For the cage, those birds raised from
the nest are the best adapted; since they
are accustomed to the sight of man from
the first, and are never so wild as those
which are trapped from the woods, though
the latter are the best songsters. The
young are generally sold in our streets at
from two to five dollars each, the pur-
chaser running the risk of the sex of the
bird. This, however, can be obviated by
observing the following rule.

The young male Mocking-bird, must
always be chosen by the breadth and
purity of the white marks on their wing-
feathers. These, in the male, are spread
over the whole nine primaries, or outer
wing-feathers, down to and frequently a
considerable distance below what is term-
ed their coverts, which are generally of a
dusky white, tipped with pale greyish-

MOCKING-BIRD. 339

brown. This white mark extends regu-
larly on both sides of the feathers down
to the place before-mentioned. In the
female, this white is less distinct, spreads
over a less number of the feathers, and
extends a much greater distance on the
broad than on the narrow sides of each.
The wings besides are inclined to brown,
which in the male are black.

The best food for the young, until able
to take care of themselves, is raw meat,
which shall be either beef, mutton, lamb
or veal, never pork, without any fat, and
be chopped or minced fine, and soaked in
fresh sweet milk. This is the most nutri-
tious nourishment they could receive, as
it approximates most closely to that which
they would obtain from the parent birds,
insects of various descriptions. Besides
this, Indian-meal, mixed to a thick paste
with sweet milk or water, is an excellent
addition, and must be fed to them daily.
When the birds have arrived at a proper
age, and can feed without assistance, the

240 MOCKING-BIRD.

same food may be continued for a month,
or six weeks, supplying them also with all
the different kinds of berries as they
alternately arrive in season. They must
have cherries, straw, black and whortle
or huckleberries, &c. during the summer
time; in the autumn those of the poke,
alder, dogwood and sour-gum, all of
which are readily to be found in the
vicinity of the city; and, during the winter
season, those of the pokeberry, which are
dried for the purpose, and can always be
had at the best seed warehouses, and of
the Virginia juniper, or red cedar. At
this latter time, they may receive soaked
currants, raisins and slices of mellow
fruits, such as apples, pears and peaches.
They will likewise eat rice, boiled soft in
milk and sweetened, which is very nutri-
tious.

They should also have insects of va-
rious kinds, as grasshoppers and beetles,
on every possible occasion. Spiders and
meal-worms, which last can be obtained at

MOCKING-BIRD. 241

any granary, will immediately revive them,
if given when they are either drooping or
sick. Boiled egg is also excellent.

The Mocking-bird, when caught in an
adult state, should be placed at once in a
cage, which should be covered at the top
with wood, and entirely round the sides
with a linen cloth. This should remain
for a few days; during this time allowing
him space for air. Then it may be re-
moved. The covered top prevents him
from injuring himself in his vain attempts
to escape; for birds will always make the
most zealous exertions to get out from
the loftiest part of their place of confine-
ment.

This apparently wild bird may be readi-
ly taught to breed in confinement; and if
the proper rules are observed, he will do
so as safely and as certainly as he would
in his native woods.

A room should be partitioned off ten or
twelve feet square, with one window,
which should be covered on the outside
21

242 MOCKING-BIRD.

with a wire bow; the whole being in a
lofty, quiet and undisturbed position. In
the centre of this, immediately opposite
the window, should be placed in a box of
earth a "straggly" growing, well limbed
juniper or red cedar tree. The earth
must be kept tolerably moist, so that the
tree may continue in a healthy state.
Building materials, such as short, very
slender twigs, wool, deer's hair, &c. must
be scattered loosely around the room on
the floor, which should be well and deeply
gravelled. After this is done, your birds,
who may be kept together for some time
before, may be placed in the apartment,
which should also have two or three limbs
of trees, so arranged that they can find
plenty of perches. The partition should
be disposed somewhat after the manner
of Venetian blinds, to afford ventilation,
and the slats should be painted of a green
colour. If convenient, some shrubbery,
that will stand a partial shade, should be
placed around its sides, as the closest

MOCKING-BIRD. 043

approach to a state of nature will be the
surest means of success.

The birds, if fed every other day with
a little of the mixture prescribed for the
Canary in a like situation, or on hard-
boiled eggs, with a little chopped raw
beef, and insects, when they can be ob-
tained, will soon commence building^

When they are breeding they must be
as little disturbed as possible; their food
and water being placed in their room
through a door in the side, without the
tender being seen, and all persons kept
away from their vicinity.

When the young are hatched, the old
birds may have a paste composed of milk
and Indian-meal, for the purpose of feed-
ing their progeny; and as the latter ad-
vance in growth they should be supplied
with a profusion of berries of different
kinds.

The female always lays five eggs, which
must never be touched during the opera-

244 MOCKING-BIRD.

tion of sitting; for if the eggs be thus dis-
turbed, she will invariably leave them.

Should you wish to rear the young by
hand, the directions for that purpose be-
fore laid down must be closely followed,
and the young Mockers fed every half
hour at the least. The old birds will then
probably, but not certainly, rear another
brood.

When diseased, as all the ailments
which affect birds are similar, they may
be treated like the Canary in a similar
situation. But the Mocking-bird is sub-
ject to one disease which is incurable — it
is blindness, which generally afflicts him
after he has spent six or seven years
in confinement. Thus shut out from
light, he gradually pines away and dies.
Alas! that the career of brilliant genius
should be always one of shortness and
sorrow! Man like the bird spends his
life in a cage of worldliness, looked upon
for one moment with admiration, the next
sinking down beneath the darkness of

MOCKING-BIRD. 945

poverty to oblivion, as the other does
beneath the blindness of nature to death.
Bird and Man ! are ye not alike in your
glory, as ye are in your fate?

In the cage, the Mocking-bird should
be regularly supplied with water once a
day, and if the weather be very warm,
twice. In the latter instance, he sjiould
be kept in a situation where he will have
plenty of air; but not in one where the
hot rays of the sun would fall for several
hours together upon his cage, as this
would at once kill him in the summer
time, though in the winter it would tend
to the advancement of his health. In the
moulting season, however, this treatment
must be changed; the bird must be taken
in the house and kept warm, quiet and
free from draughts of air, which at that
critical period are always very injurious.
This fatal time for birds occurs with this
species about the commencement of Au-
gust, and continues until the beginming of
November.
21*

246 MOCKING-BIRD.

During this season your birds should be
richly fed, and have as frequently as pos-
sible spiders, which I before remarked,
were an excellent revival to their systems,
and also grasshoppers. These are their
principal food, with other insects, at that
season, in a state of nature. They should
likewise have meal-worms, which are found
in granaries, if they be severely affected.
Another great requisite is gravel, which
should be kept constantly in the cage.

But that which is most important, is
regularity in the process of feeding. Your
birds should be fed every morning at the
same time, and not one day at one, and
the next at a different hour. Such neglect
will render him dispirited and drooping,
and he will lose his song, and finally pine
away and die, as if believing that the
neglect arose because his powers were no
longer appreciated.

247

CHAPTER II.

BROWN, OR FERRUGINOUS THRUSH, OR
THRASHER . — Mimus ferrugineus.

This large and beautiful Mocker, far
surpassing in sweetness and variety of
song the celebrated Throstle or Mavis,
of England, and scarcely inferior to the
glorious Mocking-bird in voice and talent,
is another of the choice, but too much
neglected songsters of our native land,
and a summer resident of the entire con-
tinent.

His colour, which is handsomer than
that of the Mocking-bird, is a reddish-
brown, with the throat, breast and belly
of a yellowish-white, beautifully marked
with lanceolate umbrous spots. Two
bars of white, edged with black, ornament
the wings of this bird, and give a neat
effect to his appearance. His eyes are of
a bright yellow.

248 BROWN THRUSH.

His song is loud, bold, striking and full
of originality, and given, like that of the
preceding species, at all hours of the day
and night; but most frequently in the
morning.

He is readily raised from the nest on
the same treatment as the before-mention-
ed bird; and becomes much more amusing
and sociable in confinement, and shows
the warmest attachment for the person
who tends and feeds him; while his ac-
tivity in the cage amounts almost to
capriciousness and even seeming petu-
lance.

He should be kept warm in the winter,
and receive the same articles of nourish-
ment, and the same treatment when dis-
eased, as the Mocking-bird.

249

CHAPTER III.

CAT-BIRD. — Mimus felivox.

This quaint, but beautiful songster, of
the same tribe as our Mocking-bird, and
so similar in habit and manners, is another
of our neglected native residents. In his
song, he is scarcely inferior to that well
known bird, and in every way equal to his
delightful relation, the French Mocking-
bird, or Brown Thrush. Possessing as he
does, at once all the varied gifts of both
these delightful songsters in an eminent
degree, it has long been a wonder to me
why his musical powers have not been
more fully appreciated. But so it is.
Humbleness of colour, united with the
harsh, scolding, cat-like call, from which he
derives his name, and for which he is
often killed by the ignorant farm boy,
have prevented him from being so gene-

250 CAT-BIRD.

rally known as his rich, sweet voice, so
varied in compass, deserves.

His talents as a Mocker are also very
great, and the description of the Mocking-
bird's song will very little exceed a por-
traiture of his efforts, while the richness
of his native notes is fully equal to that
of the Brown Thrush. But, in addition
to all these, there is a quaintness in his
execution, which abounds in emphasis and
melody, and is singularly striking in effect.
He frequently sings at night, when every
other bird save himself and the Mocking-
bird, is in repose; or in the dim hour of
twilight, when his musical talents perhaps
possess their fullest power, and his song
then "rises and falls with all the swell
and studied cadence of finished harmony."

For confinement, he may readily be
caught in a trap-cage, observing, should
you so obtain him, the same treatment as
prescribed for the Mocking-bird; covering
his cage, or raising him from the nest in
the same way.

CAT-BIRD. 251

His colour is a dark slate, with the
crown of the head and his tail black.
His motions in the cage are strange and
fantastical.

He should be kept in a roomy cage,
and abundantly supplied with water, for
the purpose of bathing, of which exercise
he is excessively fond, dashing about and
submerging himself until every feather is
wholly drenched.

His food may consist of every thing of
a vegetable nature, with the exception of
unbruised seeds. Bread, soaked in milk
or water, fine pastry, mashed potatoes,
boiled rice, fruits and berries, scalded
corn-meal, cakes of different kinds, and at
intervals minced flesh, and insects when
they can be obtained. Gravel should also
always be kept in his cage.

PART II.

TRUE THRUSHES. — Turdi.
CHAPTER I.

AMERICAN ROBIN. — Turdus migratorius.

This common and social resident, who
is as familiarly known to our countrymen
as his namesake, the Robin Red-breast
of Europe, is highly esteemed throughout
all sections of the country, as a cage-bird,
and a most delightful songster.

His song, when in a wild state, is
earnest, thrilling and powerful; but in the
cage it seems to acquire much by educa-
tion and association with civilized nature.
In confinement, he readily imitates any
sprightly tune; and Wilson describes one,
who piped with affected solemnity the dull
and serious psalm measure of "Old Hun-

AMERICAN ROBIN. 253

dred." He is also possessed of consider-
able powers of mimicry, which is displayed
in imitations of various birds of differ-
ent tones and even characters of voice.
Among these he is peculiar in selecting
the mellow lay of the Blue-bird, the low
whisper of the Pee-wee, and the plaintive
call of the Whip-poor-will, although he
finds a host of others as widely differing
to imitate.

In the cage he seems jealous of ap-
proach, springing to the side of the cage,
and with either real or affected anger,
striking at the hand which is pointed
through the wires. But when raised from
the nest, as he usually is, for confinement,
he becomes very tame, and will go in and
out of the house, attend at table for his
share of the dessert, and hop about with
perfect freedom and unrestrained confi-
dence. When thus domesticated, he feels
uneasy, and shows considerable peevish-
ness, if left alone or neglected. He will
22

254 AMERICAN ROBIN.

likewise articulate plainly the name by
which he is known.

His song is generally given in the early
part of the day, and is most powerful
about sunrise, bursting forth into full,
loud and impassioned cadences.

His treatment is that of the Mocking-
bird and other Thrushes, and if well at-
tended to he frequently survives to the
age of twenty years.

PART II.

BLUE-BIRDS. — Sialice.

CHAPTER I.

BLUE-BIRD. — Sialia Wilsonii.

THIS beautiful and favourite, though
rather mournful voiced songster, is an-
other of the many interesting natives of
our own sunny land. To great beauty of
plumage and delightful tone of song, he
adds a sociability and confidence of man-
ner which at once endears him to the
hearts of every one. He may be called a
bird of passage, though he only departs
from our homesteads when the severity of
winter comes on, and even then in its
midst, his sweet notes are heard from
some lonely leafless tree, or high in air,
a sweet harbinger of sunny days to come.

256 BLUE-BIRD.

His colours are a bright azure blue on
the back and wings, the primaries of which,
with his tail, are black, and his breast is a
rich ruddy chestnut hue. His abdomen
and vent are a clear snowy-white. The
female, who is valueless, is paler and greyer
in hue, with the breast of a dusky olivace-
ous tint.

We cannot refrain from giving to our
readers, the beautiful lines to this bird
by our accomplished townsman, David
Paul Brown, Esq. A gentleman, who,
whether at the bar, of which he is one of
the most distinguished ornaments, or in
the higher walks of literature, is celebrated
for the surpassing powers of eloquence,
and the high tone of moral feeling which
pervades his writings.

THE BLUE-BIRD.

0, do you hear the Blue-bird,

The herald of the spring —
How cheerily he tunes his pipe,

How blithely plumes his wing!

BLUE-BIRD. 257

He breathes the native note of praise,

To the great Source of Good,
The trees are vocal with his lays,

Instinct with gratitude.

He mounts upon his downy wing,

He cleaves the ambient air,
Inhales the balmy breath of spring,

And wakes the world to prayer.

•»•

The fertile earth, at Nature's voice,

Unlock's her precious store,
And mount and vale and plain rejoice,

To greet the genial hour.

The purling stream, no longer bound

In winter's icy chain,
Sparkles beneath the sunny ray,

And freely flows again.

Flows — as life flows in infancy,

Pure, radiant and serene,
Through flow'rs and fields and fragrant groves

That animate the scene.

Flows on till winter checks its tide,

And robs it of its bloom,
Like death, that in our youthful pride,

Consigns us to the tomb.

22*

258 BLUE-BIRD.

Yet man, for whom these notes are sung,

For whom these waters flow,
For whom this vernal wealth abounds,

The monarch here below !

Man, only man ! with lofty brow,

With stubborn heart and knee,
Looks o'er this smiling universe,

Ungrateful, Lord, to thee.

The perils of the winter past —

Spring, like a blooming bride,
The summer's and the autumn's hope,

All magnify his pride!

There — there he stands — a rebel still,

A recreant to that Power,
That murmurs in each limpid rill,

And breathes in every flower.

The Blue-bird may be readily obtained
by means of trap-cages, though he thrives
best in confinement when reared from the
nest. As he is one of our most common
songsters, his young may be found in
almost any orchard in which a hollow or
decayed apple tree can be seen. In the

BLUE-BIRD. 259

holes of which, from six to ten feet from
the ground, he always breeds. The young
should be fed in the same manner as the
young of the Mocking-bird, to whom he is
nearly related; and when of a sufficient
age, he may be kept upon the same food
as it, or any other of the Thrush tribe.
His diseases, as indeed those of a& birds,
may be treated like the Canary, or the
last mentioned songster.

260

MODE OF CARRYING BIRDS TO A DISTANCE.

Should the fancier at any time desire
to send a bird of any description to a
distant part of the country, and wish it to
go safely, he must procure a small wicker-
fronted cage, about six or seven inches
high inside, and seven or eight inches
long, with a hard back, top and sides.
This size is the most suitable, as it will-
prevent the bird from flying about and
consequently injuring himself. When tra-
velling from place to place, the front of
the cage should be covered with a piece
of gauze, which will allow the bird suffi-
cient light to feed himself, and yet prevent
him from being alarmed by the novelty of
the surrounding objects. Instead of a
water fount, a sponge should be put in
one corner of the cage, on which a little
fresh water should be poured every morn-
ing. The birds when requiring drink will

261

then press this with their bills, and so
never suffer from thirst, which were a
fountain placed in their cage, they would
invariably do, as the water would be
constantly spilling, and consequently many
fine birds would be lost. The box con-
taining the seed or other food may be
permanently fastened at the side, &r the
seed may even be scattered over the bot-
tom.

APPENDIX.

CHAPTER I.

PARROT TRIBE. — Psittaci.

The Parrots, who are a widely esteemed
and superb species of birds, are natives
of the greater portion of the world. In
North America we have but one kind, the
Carolina Parakeet, (Conurus Carolinensis^)
one of the most gorgeous of the whole
magnificent tribe. This is a native of the
Southern and Western States, and never
found naturally in the North; although
they are occasionally seen here when sent
as a present by some southern friend, or
brought for sale by sailors from the sea-
coast towns.

PARROTS. 263

This species readily becomes tame in
confinement, although only then esteemed
for his richness of plumage and acquired
docility, as he possesses little or no ta-
lent in imitating the human voice. He
will soon, however, learn to come when
called, and answer to his name when
addressed by his owner.

Various species of this splendidly plum-
aged race of birds, are found at all times
for sale in the different bird-shops through-
out the country, and at prices which de-
pend entirely upon the education of the
bird. This power, given by proper train-
ing, is at all times truly wonderful, and if
not so well known would seem to be
almost incredible. Among the many au-
thenticated instances of acquirement of
knowledge on the part of the Parrot, we
give some of the most remarkable; though
a volume might readily be filled upon this
subject alone.

The first instance that we shall notice,
is that of one of the common ash-grey co-

264 PARROTS.

loured kinds, belonging to colonel O'Kelly,
of Bristol, and for which he gave one
hundred guineas, (nearly five hundred
dollars.) This singularly talented bird,
whistled not one, but a number of distinct
and lengthy tunes, with the greatest pre-
cision and power, beating time with his
right foot throughout his whole perform-
ance with all the exactitude of an accom-
plished musician. His ear during the air
was remarkably correct, but if he occa-
sionally produced a false note, he would
immediately recommence the same bar,
and then continue on to the end of the
piece in a regular and exquisite manner,
keeping time until its termination.

Besides this extraordinary musical ta-
lent, he would give his orders for the dif-
ferent articles of food of which he was
most fond, in a manner which had the
strongest appearance of perfect reason.
This strangely accomplished bird lived to
the age of thirty years, and when he died,
a long obituary notice appeared in the

PARROTS. 255

General Evening Post of October 9, 1802,
from an old copy of which we extract
the principal items. Colonel O'Kelly was
extravagantly fond of his bird, and is
said to have possessed as much affec-
tion for his favourite as a parent could
have for a child. He had been frequently
offered any price for the bird, but refused
to part with him, and also declined*many
offers of 500 pounds a year from those
who were desirous of making a public
exhibition of his astonishing powers.

Goldsmith gives another instance of a
talented Parrot, who belonged to Henry
VII. of England, which is extremely
amusing, and no doubt true. The bird
was a resident of Westminster palace, and
being constantly hung from a casement
looking out upon the river Thames, learnt
from the passing boatmen a strange va-
riety of incongruous phrases. On one
occasion, poor Poll tumbled into the river,
and with a singular approach to reason,
shouted out at the top of her voice "A
23

266 PARROTS.

boat ! a boat ! twenty pounds for a boat !"
A greedy waterman hearing this, hastily
took up the bird and bearing it to the
king, demanded the exorbitant sum the
frightened bird had promised for its de-
liverance; a sum which was then much
more valuable than now. The astonished
monarch refused compliance, but agreed
to leave the matter to the bird, who, upon
being asked what the ferryman should
have, instantly replied, "Give the knave a
groat!"

Locke, in his excellent and unequalled
"Essay upon Human Understanding,"
gives another instance of an educated and
almost rational Parrot, whose powers
were certainly of an astonishing character.
This bird's reputation had become so
great, that the then Regent of Brazil,
Prince Maurice, with his suite, visited the
bird in his apartment to witness the
powers so widely circulated with praise
by the neighbours of the owner. The
Parrot sat for a short time, silently sur-

PARROTS. 257

veying the group; but at last exclaimed
in Portuguese, "What a company of white
men are here!" His owner, pointing to
the Prince, inquired who he was? "Oh!"
said the bird, "some General or other!"
The Prince then casually asked him,
"From what place do you come?" He
answered instantly, "From Marignan!"
"And to whom do you belong?" "To a
Portuguese!" was the reply. "What do
you do there?" again asked the Regent,
astonished, to which the bird responded
with great naivete, "I look after chickens !"
" You look after chickens," said the Prince,
jeeringly. "Yes ! I, I !" reiterated the
Parrot, "and I know well enough how to
do it!" and then immediately imitated the
clucking call of a brood-hen to her chicks.
Another instance of a talented bird,
who is now in Philadelphia, in a central
portion of the city, who calls for his meals
regularly, scolding harshly, if not instantly
served, and laughingly calling, in imitation
of the mother's voice, the names of the

268 PARROTS.

different members of the family, who are
daily deceived by its consummate talent
of mimicry. This bird also has a very
pleasant but noisy song, yet is unacquaint-
ed with anything like musical abilities.

The food of this variety of birds is of a
mixed description. They may be given
almost anything, except seasoned animal
food, of which the family partake. How-
ever, bread and milk, potatoes boiled,
cakes, raw or cooked meat without sea-
soning, scalded Indian-meal, and fruit of
every kind may be allowed them, with
plenty of water, which they drink immo-
derately. Hemp-seed may also be given
to them occasionally.

Their diseases are of the same nature
as the Canary and other birds, and the
same modes of cure, but stronger in pro-
portion, will suffice to restore them to
health.

269

CHAPTER II.

DOVES. — Columbce.

The most common, and the most prized
variety of the Pigeon race, is the Ring, or
as it is most frequently styled, the Turtle-
dove. Of all the feathered tribe, none are
regarded like them with such holy reve-
rence, from the circumstance of one of the
species having been the messenger who
returned to the Ark, bearing in his bill
the token of a subsidence of the waters;
and of his being symbolical of the pre-
sence of the MOST HIGH. This feeling is
carried to such an extent among the far-
mers of the interior of Pennsylvania, that
the slaughter of the common American
wild species, the Carolina Pigeon, (Co-
lumba Carolinensis^) whose flesh, by the
by, is scarcely inferior to that of the Par-
tridge, is esteemed a sacrilegious thing,
23*

270 DOVES.

and forbidden by the patriarchs of the
family, strongly, as a most awful crime.
But, in the neighbourhood of our large
cities, where civilization reigns supreme,
the poor Tourterelle is shot down without
compunction.

To the poet, the Dove has long been an
object of devotion, calling into operation
those fine springs of feeling which gush to
overflowing, in his warmer and more
benevolent heart. Perhaps one of the
most beautiful and finished articles which
ever fell from a poet's inspired pen, is
that by our fellow countryman, Charles
Sprague of Massachusetts, which we give
for the gratification of our fair readers,
deeming it a gem not more than equalled
by the master minds of older ages.

THE WINGED WORSHIPPERS.

Gay, guiltless pair,
What seek ye from the fields of heaven?

Ye have no need of prayer,
Ye have no sins to be forgiven.

DOVES. 271

Why perch ye here?
Where mortals to their Maker bend !

Can your pure spirits fear
The God ye never could offend?

Ye never knew
The crimes for which we come to weep:

Penance is not for you,
Blessed wanderers of the upper deep.

9-

To you 'tis given
To wake sweet Nature's untaught lays;

Beneath the arch of heaven
To chirp away a life of praise.

Then spread each wing,
Far, far above, o'er lakes and lands,

And join the choirs that sing
In yon blue dome not reared with hands.

Or, if ye stay
To note the consecrated hour,

Teach me the airy way,
And let me try your envied power.

Above the crowd,
On upward wings could I but fly,

I'd bathe in yon bright cloud,
And seek the stars that gem the sky.

272 DOVES.

'Twere heaven indeed,
Through fields of trackless light to soar,

On Nature's charm to feed,
And Nature's own great God adore.

Their food, in a wild state, consists
wholly of grain and seeds, which under-
goes, as with all the Pigeon tribe, a kind
of softening in their crops before it enters
into the vessels of the stomach, and these
in the cage must form their sustenance.
Broken corn, buckwheat, oats, wheat, rye,
and canary and hemp-seeds may be given
to them, observing at the same time to
allow them plenty of coarse gravel, which
they cannot live without, and a suffi-
ciency of water, in a flat pan, daily in
winter, and during the warm months
twice or thrice a day.

They breed with the greatest ease in
confinement, and the hen becomes so tame
when sitting, that you may place your
hand upon her, and plume her feathers
without her evincing the slightest fear;
this sociality, however, is common to all

PARTRIDGE. 373

the Pigeon tribe. They breed throughout
the greater portion of the year, and though
laying only two eggs, which are snow-
white, at a time, increase with extreme
rapidity. They should have a small box
placed near the top of the cage, and be
supplied with small twigs and hay, and a
little wool, with which to form their pests.
Their song, if it may be so called, is a
long and rather monotonous "coo," con-
tinued for a length of time, and of an
extremely mournful character, yet when
given the bird is always exulting in happi-
ness, beside the cherished partner of his
bosom.

CHAPTER III.

PARTRIDGE. — Ortyx Virginiana.

Of this favourite and sociable bird but
little need be said, as all ages and condi-

274 PARTRIDGE.

tions are fully acquainted with his charac-
ter and habits.

He is sometimes found in the cage,
although his song consists only of the
single call of "Bob- White," which is only
given during the latter part of spring and
the commencement of summer; but he is
principally kept by benevolent sportsmen,
for the purpose of being turned loose in
the spring, in order to prevent the extreme
possibility of the species, already too thin,
becoming entirely exterminated in the vi-
cinities of our large cities.

When kept in confinement, in numbers,
they should be placed in a well-aired
room, the floor of which should be strew-
ed with coarse gravel, of which they are
very fond, and large branches of the Vir-
ginia juniper layed along its sides, or
placed in clumps, that they may shelter
themselves on the approach of the feeder.
If the last direction be not attended to,
they will be apt to injure themselves in
flying about, which they do very rapidly.

PARTRIDGE. 375

When first taken they are very wild, but
in the course of a few weeks, become
accustomed to the presence of the person
having them in charge.

They should be plentifully supplied with
water, in large flat pans, as they are fond
of drinking and bathing frequently; and
they should be fed on buckwheat, wheat,
rye, broken corn, and occasionally a little
hemp-seed.

The proper season of setting them free
for breeding, is in the last of March, or
early in April, if the season be open; and
this must be done by placing a single pair
in a cage at a time, and setting it with
the door open on the edge of a thicket, or
wood, near wide spread fields, the person
having them concealing himself from
view. They will then run out together
and hide themselves, without being sepa-
rated.

CONCLUSION.

And now, gentle and courteous reader,
we come to bid you a fare well. > May
your progress through life be as pleasant,
as our journey together through this lit-
tle book has been to us. Go forth, and
may a thousand pleasures await you in
the forest, in the meadow, on the green
hill side, or by the rill which dances and
sings with delight as it passes through the
flowery valley. And oh ! look well to the
feathered songsters, those missionaries of
good feeling from the divinity of sur-
rounding Nature, and a perception of all
that is lovely and beautiful will spring up
in your bosom.

Men may deceive you, Nature never
will. As says the gifted poet, so truly
and so well: —
24

278

"Oft have we learned by bitter deeds to deem
Not always men are candid when they seem.
Cowards oft courage, as a mantle, don;
Liars talk loud their matchless truth upon;
Those born ignobly own of birth no taint;
And sinners hide them in the name of saint.
Not so with Holy Nature; who is still,
As she hath ever been and ever will,
Governed by laws, by fixed unchanging rules,
That mock the wise man's fathoming, and fooPs;
She still the same external visage wears,
Or filled with sunny smiles, or dewy tears.
Her every beauty to thy touch is free, —
Mistress as well as mother she to thee."

THOMAS DUNN ENGLISH.

And with these reflections we close the
subject, bidding our readers a kind fare-
well.

THE END.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

<&©„

The subscriber respectfully informs his friends and the
public, that he keeps constantly on hand a full asortment of
the finest, freshest and purest bird-seeds, wholesale and retail,
to be found in the country, (all of which, before sale, are
screened and re-cleaned in the establishment, to prevent the
diseases which attack Canaries. &c. if fed with dirty seed, as
is always the case with seeds purchased at the various
grocery and confectionary stores and stands about town,) a
catalogue of which, with the other articles appertaining to the
treatment and care of birds, follows:

CANARY,

MILLET,

YELLOW,

HEMP,

BUCKWHEAT.

CORN,

WHEAT,

OATS, &c.

RE-CLEANED SEEDS.

per qt. RAPE or COLE, per qt.

„ ROUGH or UNHULLED, „
RICE or PADDY, for JAVA
SPARROWS, RED-BIRDS,
&c.

SPLIT PEAS, „

RYE, „

280

MEDICINAL SEEDS.— Maw, Lettuce and Melon, by the oz.

BERRIES. — Alder-berries for the Mocking and other Insecti-
vorous Birds in the summer, Cedar and dried Pokeberries for
their use in the winter season.

Osepia or Cuttle-fish Bone, an article which should be kept
constantly in the cage of the Canary. Ivory Eggs, Breeding-
boxes, Baskets, and Cow's and Deer's hair for making nests.
Glass Bird-seed Boxes and Water Founts of various patterns.

Silver Sand and Brown Gravel neatly put in packages of 1
qt. each. With a full, complete and constant supply of CAGES,
of all kinds and patterns, of the choicest and most durable
materials, from the hands of the most celebrated makers in
the country.

Canary and other Song-birds of the best breeds constantly
on hand. Chinese Gold-fish, and Glass Globes of all sizes.

BERNARD DUKE.

Vegetable Garden, Field, Grass and
Flower-seeds.

Green-hou§e Plants, Bulbous and Tuberous
Roots, Horticultural Books, &c. &c.

BERNARD DUKE, successor to the old established house of
M'MAHON & Co., would here remind his friends and the
public, that he is prepared to supply all the choicest and finest
kinds of articles in his line of business at his new,Seed and
Horticultural Warehouse, No. 117 Chestnut Street, imme-
diately opposite the Tremont House, between Third and
Fourth Streets, North side. Articles which, from his long
experience as a Seedsman and Florist, he can warrant of
equal, if not superior quality to those sold by any other esta-
blishment in America.

GARDEN-SEEDS.— A full assortment of all those varieties of
vegetable Garden-seeds, which have been thoroughly tested
by himself, and which are most celebrated for their fineness
of growth, character and delicacy. Catalogues of which can
be had on application, postpaid.

FIELD-SEEDS. — All those kinds most celebrated for pro-
ducing the heaviest crops, as Ruta Baga, Mangel Wurtzel,
French Sugar Beet, &c. &c.

GRASS-SEEDS.— All the standard, with a fine collection of the
rarer sorts.

SWEET AND POT HERB-SEEDS of all kinds, as Sage, Thyme,
Sweet Marjorum, Summer Savory, Pot, Marygold, &c. &c.

FLOWER-SEEDS. — A choice collection of all the newest, rarest
and most beautiful sorts in cultivation. Collections of all the
newest varieties imported every spring from Europe — sepa-
parate catalogues of which furnished.

GREEN AND HOT HOUSE PLANTS. — A superb collection of all

282

the newest and finest varieties of Green and Hot House Plants
in cultivation, including all the new varieties of the Geranium
or Pelargonium, Camellia Japonica, China, Indian and Tea
Roses, Carnations, &c. &c. which can be seen at his extensive
Green-houses on the Township line near the Germantown
road, 2£ miles from Philadelphia.

FRUIT TREES.— A large collection of the finest varieties of
Apple, Pear, Peach, Plum, Apricot, Almond, &c. &c. on their
own, or engrafted upon stocks of the most vigorous growth.

ORNAMENTAL AND SHADE TREES of the finest varieties.

SHRUBBERY of the best flowering kinds. Gardening and
Agricultural Tools of every description, as Pruning and
Budding Knives, Syringes, Trowels, Hoes, Spades and
Shovels, &c. from the best manufacturers.

AGRICULTURAL BOOKS. — All the newest and latest works on
the Vegetable, Fruit and Flower Garden, Orchard, &c. con-
stantly on hand.

BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS ROOTS. — A choice collection of the
most beautiful varieties of double and single Hyacinths,
Tulips, Poeonias, Ranunculus, Lilies, Narcissus, Polyanthos,
Jonquils, Tuberoses, Tiger Flowers, &c. &c. always on hand
in their respective seasons.

Assortments of the most useful varieties of Vegetable Seeds,
put up in boxes for family use, at various prices, for all the
sections of this country, South America and the West Indies.

Assortments of twenty beautiful varieties of Annual, Bien-
nial, and Perennial Flower-seeds, put up in boxes, with direc-
tions for cultivation, at $1 each.

BERNARD DUKE.

THE

Adapted to the Climates and Seasons of the United States.-

Containing a complete account of all the work necessary to
be done in the Kitchen-garden, Fruit-garden, Orchard, Vine-
yard, Nursery. Pleasure-ground, Flower-garden, Grtfen-house,
Hot-house, and Forcing Frames, for every month in the year;
with ample practical directions for performing the same.
Also, general as well as minute instructions for laying out or
erecting each and every of the above departments according to
modern taste and the most approved plans; the Ornamental
Planting of Pleasure-grounds, in the ancient and modern
style; the cultivation of Thorn Quicks and other plants suita-
ble for Live Hedges, with the best methods of making them,
&c.; to which are annexed, Catalogues of Kitchen-garden
Plants and Herbs; Aromatic Pot and Sweet Herbs; Medicinal
Plants; and the most important Grasses, &c. used in rural
economy, with the soil best adapted to their cultivation; to-
gether with a copious index to the body of the work. By
BERNARD M'MAHON. Ninth edition, greatly improved.

The above excellent work, written by the Patriarch of
Gardening in America, and the founder of our establishment,
has passed through nine editions with increased popularity.
In every department of which it treats, it is a treasure, and no
one who takes any interest in the subject of Horticulture
should be without it.

BERNARD DUKE.

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