HIBRARY OF CONGRESS, i \^k Uta? .^:.^ Iw^'l" t I M./f.M.l \ ^ |) I UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. | CHARLES F. HOLDEN. HENRY REICHE. CHARLES REICHE. HOLDEN'S BOOK ON BIRDS, BY CHARLES F. HOLDEN. SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED. " If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it." — Fuller. " Little dewdrops of celestial melody." — Carlyle. " I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.' — Sir Thomas Browne. .,,---^"'*~~'~>-^ I ■•' 1S73 „V> PUBLISHED BY -J CHARLES REICHE AND BROTHER, 55 Chatham Street, New York, 9 BovvDoiN Square, Boston. MDCCCLXXIII. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, By CHARLES F. HOLDEN, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washin^on. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Boston : Rand, Averv, & Co., Stereotypers and Printers. CONTENTS. PAGE. PAGE. Preface . . 6 Cut-throat 6S Introduction IX Celestial .... 6S Advice to Purchasers 77 Cuba .... 64 Avadavat . 62 Cause of Disease . 20 Amandava . 64 Colds .... 20, 21 Australian Paroquets 56 Costiveness 22 For treatment, see Parrot 53 Claws, require cutting 24 Ants' Eggs 43 Caged Prisoner 79 Appetite, loss of 24 Cracked Corn . 71 Aldom's Spring Perch, Cracked Wheat 71 end of book and 81 Cannon, Birds fire . 76 Aquarium, end of book " 81 Cleansing Brass Cages 82 Artificial Mo;her, end of book " 81 Crowley,"David 71 Adams's Express 72 Cage, one suitable . 80 Breeding, Establishment of C Diamond Sparrow . 65 Reiche , . 18 Diarrhoea .... 22, 45 Bulfinch . 32 Dogs, Diseases and Training Black-Cap 3S end f book Blackbird . . 4I Brazilian Cardinal 57 Egg-bound 22 Bobolink . 47 Egg-paste 21 Bishop-finch . 67 Epilepsy .... 24 Banded Finch . 64 Eggs, Price of . . end c f book Bird-Lice 23,45 Express, Safety of . 71 Best Singers . 79 Bird-Seed 69 Fire-Bird .... 50 Bird-Cages 80 Fire-Finch 64 Breeding Cages 27 Fascinated Finch 65 Bird Call . 74 Finches for Aviary . 62 Birds' Prison-life 79 Female Canary, will mate with Food for Birds . 27 26 Canary 17 Fountain . . end fbook. Canary, Longbreed 30 Cardinal Bird . 47 Goldfinch 31,34 Cardinal Brazilian 57 GoldfincTi Mules . 35 Chaffinch . . 30, 37 Goldfinch Diseases . 35 Courdon Bluefinch 62 Grosbeak, Rose-breasted. 49 CONTENTS. Grosbeak, Cardinal . German Rape-seed . Guntlier, G. Gravel Paper (Singers) Good behavior . 47 . . 69 end of book 75 Hatching-Birds ... 28 Handsome Birds, how raised . 26 Hartz Mountains ... 18 Hemp-Seed .... 69 Hildreth and Rice . end of book Indigo-Bird . . . . 48 Indian Sparrow ... 65 Indian Silver-bill ... 63 Insects for soft-bill Birds . . 43 Incubator . . . end of book Java Sparrow . Lark, Sky and Wood Linnet, Gray or Green Linnet, Red . Little Doctor (finch) Loss of voice . Lice on Birds . Lindeman's Cages . Ladies' Dress . . . S8 39 • 30, 36 51 65 21 • 23, 45 end of book 79 Mocking-bird .... 42 Magpie-finch .... 65 Moulting, when a bird should . 23, 29 Mating Birds , . . . 26, 28 Mating Fever . . . . 25, 45 My Bird is Sick ... 20 Mockingbird-Seed ... 43 Maw-Seed .... 70 Meal Worms, how raised. . 44 Nightingale Nonpareil . Negro Finch . Nun Osborn's Cages end of book Parrot, Gray and Green . " Yellow-head " Suitable food " Pulling out Feathers . " Diarrhoea " Sore -feet ** Lice and Fits Paroquets, for Treatment, see Parrot. Paradise Whydah Bird . Patience in Training . , Paddy-seed .... Postage on Seed Poor Luck with Birds Queen Island Finch Quaker Finch . Raising Birds . Robin Redbreast (English) Robin (American) . Robin, Golden Red Bird . Rockhampton Finch Red-tail . Ringing a Bell . . Song most admired . Siskin . . , Song-Sparrow . Sparrow, Java . Sparrow, English Poem on . Starling . Spotted-sided Finch Saffron Silver-bill St. Helena Wax-bill Spice-bird Sexual Desire . Selecting Birds "Smothering" Birds Seed for Birds . " Sicily Canary " German Rape " Hemp . Millet . '* Maw, or Poppy " Paddy. " Cracked Com " " Wheat Spring Perch . Singe? s Gravel Paper Temperature for a Bird Troopial, South American Thrush, Song , Taming Birds . Training " Teaching " Virginia Nightingale Waxbill . Wrapping up Birds . Young Birds • Yellow-birds Your Bird-store 71 23 64 63 25 40 49 50 47 64 63 77 19 3h 37 50 58 S8 60, 61 42 65 64 63 62 63 19 77 82 69 69 69 69 71 70 70 71 71 end of book 21 1,56 41 73 73 73 47 CONTENTS OF APPENDIX. PAGE. PAGE. Birds will not Bathe 85 Nightingale . 87 " Desert their Young . 86 Swollen and Sore Limbs . 89 " Brought up by Hand 86 Sky and Wood Lark . 88 " Bristle up . 84 Scales on Limbs . . 89 " Bathe whilst mated . 87 Sparrow, English . 88 Bird-Lime 90 Sore Feet . 84 Saifron .... 90 Eggs, Birds eat them . 85 Trapping Birds . 89 Feathers oflf Head . . 83 Trap-Cage . 90 PREFACE. There are few persons who have not, during some portion of their lives, nourished and cherished a pet of some kind ; and birds, from their elegant and beautiful coloring, the graceful ease of their flight, their beautiful music, their tender solicitude for their young, their susceptibility of domestication, and engaging instincts, have for ages attracted the universal attention of the human family; and to those who treat them kindly they become greatly attached, and manifest much affection, and without doubt stand foremost of the entire range of ani- mated nature. To those who love these, " God's joyous warblers," the succeeding pages of this book are dedicated. If the bird-fancier of mature years or the younger student in ornithology can find one new idea, or if our little caged prisoner can be made more happy, 6 PREFACE. 7 or the causes of its illness removed, or' the prop- agation of caged birds be reduced to a satisfactory result, — then the work of the author has not been in vain. The publication of this book has been in the author's mind for many years ; and it is now placed before the public, not with the finish of the classical scholar, but of as an every-day affair of life. In its arrangement, I do not claim to have consulted any authors, either ancient or modern, and believe the pages devoted to the mocking-bird and parrot to be the first treatment ever written on these much- loved and universally-kept birds. Before closing these prefatory remarks, I would embrace the opportunity here offered to thank the numerous admirers of the " bird family " with whom I have been brought into business relations during the last three years for their admiration of the feathered pets intrusted to my care, and would modestly, suggest the hope that their interest may ever continue. To the gentlemen of the press in Boston and the New-England States, I am under obligations that cannot easily be set aside. Had it not been for their earnest efforts in behalf of the ** Little dewdrops of celestial melody," 8 PREFACE. my efforts would have indeed been futile. It is a pleasure for me to here publicly express the in- debtedness under which I am placed, and to beg that they will, one and all, accept the heartfelt thanks of THE AUTHOR. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. It is scarcely two months since the author pre- sented to the public the results of his labors. He then printed an edition of five thousand copies ; and, being thus early called upon for a second edition, he embraces this opportunity to revise, where revision is necessary, the text of his first work. There have been many additions made, which will be found in the Appendix. These additions have been, in part, suggested by those who have consulted the first edition ; and the author, in returning his thanks for such assistance, cannot refrain from ex- pressing the great satisfaction afforded him by the conviction that the work has filled a place in the niche of natural history that has for so long a time been only partially filled. The lovers of the feath- ered creation have shown their appreciation of his efforts, and their admiration of the wonderful works 10 PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. of God, by the constantly-increasing demand and extended inquiries in regard to the peculiarities of the various birds of song and plumage. The departure made by the author, in his first edition, in not following all previous writers, by giving uninteresting scientific descriptions of the various birds, has met the full approval of the public. While he will ever respect and admire the writings of Wilson, Audubon, Samuels, and other American ornithologists, and read with reverence the writings of those eminent German naturalists, Bartlett, Dr. Brehn, Reiche, Bodinus, Cabanis, Cronan, Finsch, Geoffroy, Girtanner, Grassner, A von Homeyer, Adolf, and Carl Miiller, Bekemans, and very many others, still, at the present time, in this fast American age, the public desire results condensed to the fewest possible words ; and, if the author has succeeded in giving to the demand just what it desired, then his wish has been fully realized. The book is now presented to the bird-lovers of America ; and the author has reasons for believing that all information ever desired in regard to cage- birds can be found within its pages. Boston, September, 1873. INTRODUCTION The author has studiously avoided in this work the habit, or error, of all other authors on works of a similar character, — of copying bodily from Bech- stein and other European authors ; and as this error has been repeatedly made, and the history of the discovery of the canary-bird, &c., told so many times, this Introduction will bring before the public Messrs. Charles and Henry Reiche, to whom every portion of the civilized world is indebted for birds of song from foreign countries as well as its own. In the spring of 1842, Mr. Charles Reiche ven- tured to export birds from Germany to America, it being the first enterprise of the kind that had ever been undertaken. Of course they had to be sent in a sailing-vessel ; and the voyage lasted several months, landing the first importation of canaries that ever reached America, in quantity sufiicient to call it an importation, at New Orleans. But the II 12 INTRODUCTION. taste for foreign, and especially German, singing- birds was as yet only shared by a few ; and it re- quired the most strenuous exertions to dispose of this first lot of one thousand. There were no cages to be had, and there was a great scarcity of bird-food : the people did not know how to treat them, and failed to appreciate their music ; but it required only a few years to change all this, and the fashion of keeping singing-birds is now universal and constantly increasing. In 1843 the second exportation of birds was made ; part being landed in Charleston, S.C., and part in New-York City. This was a successful operation ; and in 1846 Mr. Charles Reiche associated with him his brother Henry, and the business of export- ing birds began to be carried on in a strictly system- atic manner, and was encouraged by a constantly- increasing sale. In 1849 ttie first large lot of birds was landed in Boston j and the formerly well-known bird-store in Scollay's Building was opened by Mr. Henry Reiche, who, after a most successful business, sold out to the late well-known Henry Bradshaw, who for so many years dealt in baked beans, birds, doughnuts, cages, soft-bottom apple-pies, and bird-seed, in a stall ad- joining the fish department in Quincy Market. In 1852 the now well-known Mr. Henry Reiche, of 55 Chatham Street, New York, made his first trip to California^ via the Old Nicaragua Route, start- ing with an invoice composed in part of canaries, goldfinches, and bulfinches, the total value of the INTRODUCTION. ' 1 3 shipment being thirteen hundred and fifty dollars. After all kinds of ill-luck, and the discouraging ad- vice of his brother Charles, some eight years his senior, who looked upon the speculation as one that must prove a total loss, he, neither discouraged nor disheartened, started on his (then a long) journey, and reached California with half the number of birds he started with, — a stranger and in a strange land. But imagine his surprise and delight at hearing his name called out from a window in the Bank of California by a clerk, formerly an old resident of Boston, who, after the ordinary congratulations, told him "he had struck gold." And indeed it so proved, for none of his birds were sold for less than twenty dollars, many for a much larger sum ; and, losing but one steamer, he returned to New York, and counted out to his brother over five thousand dollars in gold. This cash was then as much to them as is fifty thousand dollars to-day: it gave them their first start in business in a large way. In 1853 there were 10,000 birds imported; in i860, 15,000 ; in 1865, 30,000 ; and the imports since July, 1872, of canaries alone, amount to 65,000. And, when it is known that the total number raised for the American market cannot exceed 95,000, it leaves the house of Reiche the bird-dealers for America. And it is not canaries alone, but all other kinds of European birds of song and plumage, which were imported this bird-year, 1872-73, to the number of 15,000. The greatest drawback to the Messrs. Reiche in 14 ' INTRODUCTION. their early days was to find cages of any kind, much more those of a suitable kind. Mr. G. Gunther of New-York City was the first man who could be in- duced to make a cage. He was finally persuaded, and is now one of the largest, as well as the oldest, manufacturers in the country. His japanned cages, as well as his recently-improved brass cages, are found on sale in all parts of the United States. This cage business has become of such immense dimensions, that several large firms are constantly engaged in their manufacture, employing hundreds of operatives, and using a capital of nearly a quarter of a million of dollars. The most prominent ones are Messrs. O. Lindeman & Co. and the Osborn Manufacturing Company, whose unique brass cages are always found in all well-kept bird and house- furnishing-goods stores ; the American Cage Co., Messrs. Maxheimer & Co., besides several others, all of whom carry on the business in New- York City, and whose business-cards will be found in the back part of this book. But it is not the trade with birds in North America alone that has attracted their attention ; for, aside from the thousands annually sold in Germany, many thousands each year find their way to England and Russia, and quite as many are every year exported to South America, to the Indies, and Australia ; so that from 200,000 to 250,000 canary-birds are ex- ported from Germany to trans-oceanic ports every year. In the month of January, 1873, Mr. Henry Reiche INTRODUCTION. I5 sent, in charge of several competent men, a car- load of birds, and cages to Salt Lake, Denver Cit}^ and other places in that vicinity ; and, aside from his early California experience, these were the first birds that were ever shipped west of the Mississippi River. Messrs. Reiche may well look back with pride at the time when they first commenced business ; the base of their operations being St. Petersburg:, Russia. Since that time they have sent birds to Lisbon, Rome, Turkey, Cape-Town, Bombay, Cal- cutta, Singapore, Pekin, Melbourne, Sydney, and other prominent places in the Eastern Hemisphere ; and to Lima, Peru, Rio Janeiro, Venezuela, and other places in South America ; as well as to the more prominent points in the West Indies ; and from all of which places, not omitting Japan, they have always brought back beautiful birds. These two brothers have made three trips round the world ; and the elder one, Mr. Charles Reiche, is now, and has been since 1858, permanently located at Alfeld, Germany ; and Mr. Henry Reiche, widi a sufficient accumulation of this world's goods,, makes his permanent home in New York. He is at No. 55, Chatham Street, daily; and his frequent companions during the winter and early spring are the great showmen of America, who are constantly importing animals through this firm, who are the only animal-dealers in America. Without offering an apology for the seeming length of this Introduction, the author feels that i6 INTRODUCTION. those who have been so instrumental in making many firesides happy are at least entitled to suffi- cient prominence to record, for the first time, the important part they have taken in supplying to the world " God's sweet and joyous warblers." *"^^^r^ The Canary The original home of this bird is the Canary Islands, where, in the later part of the fifteenth century, they were wont to breed on the banks of the island rivulets, and would have continued so to do, had not bird-catchers (there were bird-catchers even in those days) trapped them, and sent them to various parts of Europe, mostly, however, into Ger- many, where, as you have been informed in the Introduction, they have been massed, and exported to all parts of the habitable globe. And we might with truth say, that, among the musicians who come to our shores to charm us with their notes, the largest orchestra is that of the singing-birds. They ask very little of our money, and never demand a Music Hall as the only theatre worthy their per- formance. A few dollars will buy one of these sweet singers, and a few more will build or buy a Music Hall for its performances. It charges 2* 17 I 8 THE CANARY. nothing for its singing, and is not fastidious as to its accommodations, carolling just as sweetly in the attic of the tired sewing-woman as in the* boudoir of the fashionable lady. It becomes a friend to the lonely, and a comforter to such as are in trouble. From his cage, as well as from the wildwood, it sings of the love and care of Him without whose knowledge not one of its feathered friends can fall to the ground. Like flowers, birds are a beautiful gift to a friend, v/ith this advantage over them, — they live longer, and, by their constant voice, recall to mind the giver. Very few persons have any idea of the trade carried on in these frail wares between our own and foreign countries ; and how few of our readers that are the possessors of some favorite songster ever gave a moment's thought to where they come from or how they came ! We refer now to that established, universal favorite, the canary. Reader, let me take you across the Atlantic to Ger- many, to a famous place called the Hartz Moun- tains. And -now that you are here with us, we v/ill take you to the immense breeding-establishment of Mr. Charles Reiche, which, in its arrangements, is similar to all other establishments. Here you will observe a quantity of rooms arranged very much after the style of the sleeping-apartments of a hotel. Each of the rooms is properly furnished with light, ventilation, a quantity of small trees, feeding-boxes, water for bathing and drinking, and on the sides of the room a quantity of nests, and the floor covered with fine sand to the depth of three or more inches. THE CANARY. I9 In this room are placed twenty or more male birds, and three times their number of females ; and from this large feminine family every male chooses his mate, — and, reader, don't blush, for some of them choose even three and four mates, — all of which will hatch their young peacefully, and live one large, happy family together. The young birds (males) are taken at the age of six weeks, as they can then crack seed (and we will here remark, that, when they are fully feathered, they commence to warble ; that is, they fill their throats in the same manner as an old singing-bird : and this is the only way that male birds can be told from females when so very young), and placed in large cages, say twenty-five birds to a cage, and kept in rooms (these rooms hold about twenty such cages) until they are through moulting ; for a young bird, as soon as he is in full feather, commences to moult, or shed his body feathers : his tail and wing feathers he sheds the second season. This moulting process requires about six weeks, after which they are taken into a room away from the sound of all singing canaries, this room only having a small opening in the top ; and in the room above them there is kept a nightingale, skylark, or some other fine whistling bird, the best of his species, who acts as instructor for the young birds ; and it is from this instructor that they get these beautiful notes, the bow-trill, the bell-note, the flute, the water-note, &c., which are so much admired. At the age of six months they become adepts at sing- ing, and are then taken to the immense warehouse 20 CARE OF CANARY. of Charles Reiche & Bro., situated at Alfeld, Ger- many, and placed in the little willow cages seen in all bird-stores, seven birds in a row or string. They are then placed in boxes or crates, four rows wide and six rows high, or a hundred and sixty- eight birds to a crate. They are then sent, in charge of a competent man, — who ordinarily takes twelve hundred birds, — overland to Bremen or Hamburg, and then shipped to the New- York house of Charles Reiche & Bro., located at 55 Chatham Street. The birds are cleaned, fed, and watered every day. And for this ocean business the Messrs. Reiche keep no less than eighteen men constantly employed. The very general desire of the public to know how to take the best possible care of their pets, and the wish of the whole bird-trade for a treatise that could be implicitly relied upon, free from all the scientific attainments so freely shown in large works, and at a popular price, has led the author to publish what has been his own experience through a num- ber of years. First, we will commence with sick birds and their treatment. " My bird is sick : what shall I do for it?" This question is asked at the bird-stores times without number daily ; and it is just as easy an- swered, without knowing nhat ails the bird, as it is for a physician to prescribe accurately for a disease when simply informed that a member of the family is sick, " and please send up some medicine at once." The Cause of most Disease is colds, which are LOSS OF VOICE. 21 occasioned by either hanging a bird in a draught of air, near a loose-fitting window, or keeping him in a very hot room (sixty degrees is the proper tempera- ture for a bird) through the day, and then in a cool one at night, — a variation of perTiaps forty degrees in twenty-four hours. This cold, if not cured at once, leads to asthma, and from that to a disease known as the gapes. The best cure for the cold is to feed, in addition to their regular seed, rape and canary (no hemp), a paste made from a hard-boiled egg and one pulverized cracker, thoroughly mixed together, the same as you feed to birds when sitting. Sometimes a bird seems hoarse, and apparently has Lost his Voice. — This is occasioned by over- singing : a little pure rock-candy, not flavored, dis- solved in the drinking-water, and a few kernels of red pepper put into the paste described above, will usually effect a cure. If, however, the cold is al- lowed to remain for several days without any atten- tion or cure, it will pass rapidly from cold to asthma, and from that to gapeSj which is best described by saying that the bird looks like a little puff-ball, with a constant panting, and his bill almost constantly opening and shutting, as if to catch breath. His food should be the same as described above. Many bird-fanciers have given small pieces of salt-pork with a very little red pepper thereon, and with beneficial effect. Messrs. Charles Reiche & Bro., however, can say, that, with nearly forty years' experience as bird-fanciers, importers, and dealers, they have, as yet, never found a cure for this disease. 22 DIARRHOEA. — EGG-BOUND. Birds troubled with a Diarrhcea can be greatly relieved, and many times a permanent cure effected, by placing a ru^ty nail in their drinking-water ; and, should a bird be ^troubled with the reverse of this complaint, — costiveness, — apiece of sweet apple, a little chickweed, lettuce, or any green food, will usually afford full relief. Most ailments of birds commence with a cold ; and the old adage of the " ounce of prevention," &c., is peculiarly applicable to the bird family. Dealers in birds are constantly visited by owners of feathered pets to seek information on a subject to which their human instinct should furnish the answer. This is particularly the case in breeding- season ; and a question asked daily is, — " My Bird is Egg-bound : what shall I do for it ? " A few questions from the dealer reveals the fact that the female has been fed upon diy seed and food of a clogging nature ; and the information given at once is, Feed your bird some green stuff or a piece of apple, thereby loosening it (which should have been done before mating), and, carefully taking the bird out, rub the passage gently with warm sweet-oil". At times birds are egg-bound from having taken cold : should this be the case, apply also the reme- dies for a cold. Birds, when proper care is taken of them, are rarely attacked with disease. If owners of feathered pets would first see that the cage is perfectly clean and well supplied with plenty of gravel or gravel- paper for the bird to pick upon, and that the seed LICE. — MOULTING. 2^ is of the very best quality, and that they are fed and jiven a bath at a regular hour daily, — then your birds, if kept from draughts of air, and no trash, such as sugar, candy, figs, raisins, cake, &c., fed them, will sing from ten to eleven months out of the year, which they always do with the poor families in Ger- many, who find it impossible to get such luxuries. It is only the wealthy and better classes that have so- cftlled "poor luck with birds." And why? Because they kill them with kindness, — though it is very un- kind to the bird, — never, never by neglect. One source of great annoyance to a bird and also to his owner is the Little Red Bird-lice. — Messrs. Reiche now put up a powder which can be sprinkled on the bottom of the cage, and effectually rid the bird of these annoying pests. It is put up in envelopes, and will be sent to any address by mail, prepaid, on receipt of twenty-five cents. Another way to rid the bird of them is to place at night a white towel on top of the cage ; and, when you arise in the morning, you will find it well cov- ered. These should be shaken into the stove, and the same thing repeated every night ; and in two weeks, at farthest, you will be entirely free from them. A question often asked is, — When should a Bird moult ? — Most birds shed their feathers in the months of September and Oc- tober ; and though it is perfectly natural for them so to do, still the operation is accompanied with a 2% BIRDS CLAWS. — LOSS OF APPETITE. slight disease. They should be fed on the soft paste before described ; and, as they are not well covered with feathers, great care should be taken to keep them out of all draughts of air, but kept where it is comfortably warm. With these precautions, a bird will fully moult in from four to six weeks. Should a bird not shed his wing and tail feathers readily, it is well to pull them oitt, — pulling, how- ever, only one at a time. It often happens that a Bird's Claws grow very long, and require cut- ting. This is a particular operation ; and care should be taken not to cut up into the blood-veins, which can be easily seen by holding the bird's claw in front of a strong light, and then not cutting within at least a sixteenth of an inch of the red vein. Occasionally a canary is troubled with epilepsy. A sure cure for this has never been discovered. The author has taken a bulfinch and other birds af- fected, and cut the birds' claws, — one on each foot, — just sufficient to draw the blood, and, holding the foot in warm (not hot) water until the blood ceased to flow; then a slight sprinkling — with the hand — with cold- water : feeding only on rape-seed which had been previously soaked in water, and a liberal supply of apple and green-stuff, as recommended above, has generally effected a cure. During and after moulting, and sometimes after breeding, a bird will seem to have Lost his Appetite. — At such times, it is well to give a very little hemp, and all the millet-seed a MATING FEVER. — RAISING BIRDS. 25 bird will eat ; and, if convenient, change the loca- tion of his cage to a more cheerful place. From the 14th of February to the middle of May, all birds have what is known as the Mating Fever. — This fever, or sexual desire, is the strongest during the latter part of April and early in May ; and, if not mated, they sit moping v/ith ruffled feathei^, cease singing entirely, refuse their food, and often, in their silent sorrow, pine away and die. If their attention can be diverted from this " lovesickness,"'it should always be done. The better cure is to mate your bird. If this is inconvenient, place him in the cheerful sunlight, tempt him with dainty morsels of food, talk and whistle to him ; and, if you have a friend who owns a bird, let your bird visit him, and cheerful company will soon restore him ; or a better way still is to leave him at a well-kept bird-store. These comprise about all the diseases that the canary is subject to ; and we will here state, that all of the family of seed-eating birds have about the same ailments, and require similar treatment. As many who own birds have a desire to breed them, a little information may- not be amiss to the new beginner. Americans raise Birds 'wholly for pleasure ; and it certainly is a pleasure. What greater amuse- ment can be furnished children, and, in fact, chil- dren of a larger growth, than the mating and rearing of a nest of beautiful young canaries ; to watch the busy weavers make their nest; the 3 26 TO RAISE A HANDSOME BIRD. constant care and attention given to it by the moth' er-bird during the season of " sitting," who is so regu- larly relieved by her loving mate, who ever and anon covers the eggs while she is seeking food or rest ? Alas ! our little canary-bird has taught many a les- son to the human family ; and the constancy of a bird to its mate is rarely equalled by the lords of creation. In mating Birds, a young male and old female produce mostly male birds ; and those of about the same age produce about equal proportions of both males and females. The food for your birds, in addition to their regu- lar canary and rape seed, — no henip^ — should be the following: one hard-boiled &gg — the wdnole ^gg — ■ grated on a coarse horseradish grater, and one common soft cracker, rolled fine with a rolling-pin, or carefully grated, and then mixed together, and fed to the birds in small quantities at least twice per day ; and this food must be continued to the old birds until you are through breeding; and the same food must be continued to the Young Birds until they can crack seed, which they can do with ease at the age of six weeks. It is, however, an advantage to soak some rape-seed, and put it in for the young birds as soon as they leave the nest. To PRODUCE A HANDSOME YELLOW BiRD, your male should be a Jonquil, which is a deep-yellow bird with almost an orange crown, and the female a mealy bird, which is a whitish yellow, and has the MATING BIRDS. 2/ appearance of being frosted or powdered all over. A clear yellow male and a mealy female will usually produce a pure yellow bird ; while a clear yellow male mated with a gray or green female will usually produce a very hands'ome mottled bird. A deep yel- low or orange-colored male with a very dark-green female often produces the highly-prized cinnamon bird. A Female Canary will mate with the foUov/- ing birds, and produce a very beautiful songster, which is known as a mule, — the linnet, goldfinch, bulfinch, siskin, our native bobolink, indigo bird, and other birds of a similar size ; and the male from these birds is ^■ery highly prized on account of his beauty and song. A suitable cage for breeding can be either of wood, wired, or the ordinary japanned tin cage, or brass. Should you use an old wooden cage, it should be thoroughly scalded with hot soda-water, to kill all vermin, and then varnished over. The birds should have a nest — wire is the best — se- curely fastened into one corner of the cage, first covering the nest with canton, or cotton and wool flannel, and hung up against the wall, at least a foot above your head, and in a southern aspect if possi- ble, and not moved until you are through breeding for the season. There should always be placed in the cage, from a wall of some very old building that is being torn down, a piece of mortar to make egg- shells from, as, without this, the female would lay soft-shell eggs. 28 HOW HATCHED. Another question often asked at bird-stores is, •'How DO YOU MATE A PaIR OF BiRDS ? " The reader is supposed to own a male canary. ■ If such supposition be true, then go to a first-class bird- store, and buy a female canary and breeding-cage ; and the very best way to mate a pair of birds is to place the female in the breeding-cage and hang it up on one side of the room ; and, leaving the male bird in his cage, hang him up on the other side, and within sight of her. If he sings and calls to her, and she calls back in return, as much as to say, "May I come in yowr cage?" then you can put them together ; and, though they may quarrel at first, this will be only of short duration, and they will very soon mate. After mating your birds, a period of only seven to eight days elapses before the female commences to lay ; and she will lay from four to seven eggs, one each day, at about the same hour, and sit upon them for thirteen days, v/hen the operation of hatch- ing commences ; and the Birds are hatched One each Day, until all the eggs are hatched. If it should happen that one or more eggs remain in the nest, and do not hatch at the proper time, it would be well to take them (the eggs) out of the nest carefully, using for this purpose a teaspoon, so as not to handle the eggs, and hold them before a strong light ; and, if there is the appearance of blood-veins in the egg, place it back carefully ; for it may yet be hatched. If, upon the other hand, the egg be clear and transparent, it DOES A YOUNG BIRD MOULT? 29 can be thrown away as worthless. It is a rule in Europe to never throw away an egg until it has been laid at least twenty-one days. From the time the young birds are born, the male bird helps feed them, if he is a good father, and so partially relieves the' female. If he should at times seem quarrelsome with his mate, or show ^00 much attention of a loving kind to her, it would be well to separate them, putting him in his own cage until the young birds are nearly feathered, when, after they have perched a few nights, they can be removed to other cages, and the male returned, and another brood raised ; and the same operation repeated. Cases have been known of raising seven broods in a season. We are often asked the question, — " Does a Young Bird moult t " — Our answer is, Yes, A youi^ bird is usually in full feather at the age of six weeks (we will here state, that, when he is four weeks old, he will swell up his throat, and try to warble ; and by this you can tell the males from the females) ; and, when he is in full feather, he com- mences to moult, or shed his body feathers. The wing and tail feathers he does not shed until the second season : this process is slow in a young bird, and usually requires about eight weeks to change all the body feathers, during all of which time they should be fed, at least twice a week, on the hard- boiled egg and cracker, as described above, and kept out of all draughts of air. If your bird — the father of the young — is a 3* 30 THE CHAFFINCH AND LINNET. good singer, the young birds will learn readily, and at the age of six months become fine songsters. The Longbreed, or French Canary, has had his day, and is now about "run out" in France. His high, square shoulders give him an ungainly appearance ; and his great length and delicate frame make him a very weak bird, and not well adapted for a parlor bird ; while, in powers of song, he is far, far inferior to the short, or German canary, so generally admired the world over for his exquisite song. There is a very general desire among all owners of a canary for some other bird that sings; and how often are bird-dealers asked the question, "What other kind, of bird can I buy that sings nicely ? " There are many very beautiful songsters among the seed-eating birds ; and the one that more, perhaps, has been written about than any other is The Chaffinch. — Who that has ever read the letter of Michelet to his good wife, in his work entitled "The Bird," could have failed to read his vivid description of a poor blind chaffinch, that was offered for sale in the great bird auction-rooms in Paris. This bird had been a pet ; and poverty in the family had compelled its sale. This bird is one of the many European song-birds, and for the sweetness of his song, as well as for his sleek plum- age, should be generally kept. Other favorite birds are the English Gray and Green Linnet. — They are both remarkably fine singing, or rather whistling, GOLDFINCH, SISKIN, AND TROOPIAL. 3 1 birds : their tone is very sweet and soft, and they will sit perched upon one limb for hours together, and sing so sweetly that one almost falls in love with them. Two other English birds veiy much admired are the Goldfinch and Siskin. — The Goldfinch is an exquisite songster, arid, mated with a canary, pro- duces a bird of remarkable beauty, and really a fine songster. The Siskin can also be mated with the canary, and produce a very strong and hardy bird, and one that is much admired in Europe. All of the above birds, as well as the canary, are taught tunes by the poorer classes in Germany ; and some of the birds sing, or rather "pipe," their tune as nicely as a boy could whistle it. Amongst the soft-bill birds, — those that have a io?ig bill, — there are many beautiful songsters, first among which comes our own loved American mock- ing-bird. The bird which ranks next to our mock- ing-bird is the South-American Troopial. — This bird has a beautiful rich plumage, and looks very much like our American golden robin, or what is knov;n as the Baltimore oriole, the chief difference being that it is much larger in size, and the orange of the body being more of a yellow. It is one of the feathered tribe of the tropics, gifted with great pow- ers of song ; being extremely docile, they are great favorites for the cage, and, in confinement, become so tame that they will hop on your hand at call. 32 TROOPIAL AND BULFINCH. Their song is a very powerful yet pleasant whistle of clear and varied notes. They are extremely active, and very graceful in their movements, and require a cage the same size that a mocking-bird is usually confined in. Following this bird in attractive qualities of song, come the nightingale, black-cap. warbler, wood and sky lark, Irish blackbird, thrush, English robin red- breast, starling, and hosts of others. The first of these birds that attracts our attention is the BuLFiNCH. — This bird has no natural song, but is gifted with the ability of imitating, with an astonish- ing accuracy, in a sweet and flutelike tone, almost any air that is whistled, or played to them on an instrument. This has made him a great favorite among all lovers of birds. In Germany, particularly in Hesse and Saxony, a large number of these birds are taught, and by the dealers brought to various parts of the world. The raising and teaching is generally accomplished by shoemakers, tailors, and weavers, who, being con- fined to their rooms, are thus enabled to take care of them. The teaching begins from the time they are taken into the house. The tune that it is intended they should learn is whistled to them — whis fling is always preferred, as instruments are generally too shrill — several times a day, more particularly in the morning and evening. The tune must be whis- tled always in the, same key, and no other tune whistled in the hearing of the bird, which is kept THE BULFINCH. 33 in rather a dark place during the process of train- ing. Taken as they are when quite young, and brought up by hand, they are always tame, and will take food from the hand of any one, and may be trained to sing or pipe their tune at command : they very soon learn to know the person who feeds them, — and we will here remark that the same person should always feed them, — and will pipe their tune, making beautiful and elegant gestures, now moving the body, and then the head, first to tiie right, then to the left, spreading the tail like a fan, and seem- ingly " fanning " with it, when they commence with a short flourish, or prelude, and pipe their tune through perfectly. The bulfinch should be fed principally on sum- mer rape-seed, to which may be added a little canary, and occasionally one or two hemp-seed, as a reward for piping his tune. Sugar, sweet-cakes, or such-like delicacies, spoil their taste, and should not be given to them. A little greens in the sum- mer, or sweet apple in the winter, is very whole- some, both of which 7Jiust be fresh. As their claws grow very fast, and also very hooking, they must be cut at least twice a year. They must always be handled very gently, as they are easily frightened, and harsh treatment often causes their death. These birds usually moult in the month of Sep- tember ; and, as they shed their feathers very rap- idly, — sometimes becoming almost bare in one day, — great care must be taken to keep them from all 34 THE GOLDFINCH. draught-s of air; and, in addition to their regular seed, a little of the yolk of a hard-boiled egg should be fed them at least three times a week. The bulfinch has diseases. These, however, are usually caused by improper care ; for if the bird be fed and watered regularly every day, at the same hour and by the same person, and plenty of dry sand freely used, the cause of disease is greatly reduced. Occasionally these birds are troubled with a diarrhoea, and can be greatly relieved, and many times a permanent cure effected, by placing a rusty nail in their drinking-water : a nail should also be placed in their drinking-water during moult- ing season ; and, should a bird be troubled with the reverse of this complaint, — costiveness, — a piece of sweet apple, a little chickweed, lettuce, or any green food, will usually afford full relief. Occa- sionally this bird will appear dumpish, sitting all day upon his perch with ruffled feathers : the best mode of treatment is to give him a supply of maw, or what is sometimes called poppy-seed, which will in most cases quickly restore him to his usual spirits. The next bird that is generally admired and kept is the Goldfinch ; and, of all parlor birds, he is cer- tainly one of the most delightful, alike for the beauty of his plumage, the excellence of his song, his proved docihty, and remarkable cleverness. He is also very easily tamed, and is capable of great attachment to his owner, and may be taught various amusing tricks, such as dragging a little wagon up GOLDFINCH MULES. 35 an inclined plane into his cage to supply himself with food, or to ring a bell whenever he requires attention, and to haul up water from a little well underneath the cage. All these he will learn very readily, and without any coercion. Goldfinch Mules. — The goldfinch will pair with the canary, and the mule-birds produced are fre- quently very beautiful, and are also particularly good singers. The mixture, ' so to speak, of the song of the two birds is particularly sweet, fine, and pleasant to the ear. In breeding mule-birds, it is true that it requires some patience, and also good judgment, for the successful rearing of choice mules ; but, when a satisfactory result is obtained, it is well worth the pains. Like other birds, the Goldfinch has Diseases. — They are very sub- ject to epilepsy ; and sometimes, when closely con- fined, have swollen eyes. By anointing the eye with fresh butter, the ailment will be removed. They are greedy eaters, and are sometimes apt to overdo the matter. A cold bath will soon put them to rights. Goldfinche's have been known to live confined in a cage for sixteen or twenty years ; and, though they may lose their bright colors, they retain their activity and cheerfulness of disposition. Their food, in their wild state, consists of all kinds of seeds, &c. : in a cage they should be fed upon maw- seed. As their bill, though as sharp as* a needle, is, in young birds, quite soft, — and, although very fond of rape and canary seed, they cannot readily crack it until they are at least two years old, — it would 36 THE LINNET. always be well to soak a little canary and rape for them, thereby softening the hull, and making it a matter of no trouble for them to crack ; and occasionally, as a reward for some trick or display of affection, a few crushed hemp-seed, which he should be made to take from the hand. Most wild birds, when captured, become in confinement sul- len and dispirited : want of exercise and of a peculiar kind of food so alters the quality of the fluids, that fits and ailments ensue ; and the bird mopes and soon dies. Not so with the goldfinch : immediately after its capture it commences to feed on its canary or hemp seed (fopd which it could never have tasted before), nibble its sugar in the wires, like an enjoyment which it had always been accustomed to, frisk about its cage, and dress its plumage, without manifesting the least apparent regret for the loss of companions or liberty. Its beauty, its melody, and its speedy reconciliation to confinement, render it a desirable companion ; and it is captured to cheer us with its manners and its voice in airs and regions ve'ry different from its native thistly downs and apple-blossom bowers. The Linnet, either gray or green, is a beautiful songster, and is very generally kept throughout Europe. It is of a hardy constitution, easily do- mesticated, a most lovely and constant singer, utter- ing many very sweet, flute-like notes ; and if fed principally on canary and rape seed, with occasion- ally a very few hemp seed, it will remain in compar- ative health. SISKIN, CHAFFINCH, AND NIGHTINGALE. 37 Another bird which is attracting considerable attention in America is The Siskin. — This, as well as the goldfinch and lin- net, is one of the species used in crossing with the ca* nary. In Europe, it is a favorite cage-bird, and really a beautifully-plumaged one. Their song is short and low, though very agreeable, and they imitate with facil- ity the notes of various birds. Caged, they should be fed on maw-seed, mixed with crushed hemp. As they are a greedy bird, care must be taken not to feed them too much. In health or sickness, their treat- ment, except feeding, should be the same as the canary. A very beautiful bird, for his sleek plu- mage, as well as for his agreeable song, is the Chaffinch. — They are extremely docile, and can be trained or taught to perform many amusing tricks. Their food should be the same as the ca- nary, adding, however, in the spring, a few hemp- seed to induce them to sing more freely. These comprise about all the European seed-birds of song that find their way to America. Amongst the soft-bill birds (those that live on mocking-bird or other soft food), the first in the hearts of his countrymen is the Nightingale. " Night from her ebon throne stoops down to listen To this the sweetest songster of the grove ; And pulses thrill, and eyes with rapture glisten, As forth she pours her plaintive song of love." 4 38 THE NIGHTINGALE AND BLACK-CAP. This bird is decidedly the most melodious- of all singing-birds. The compass, flexibility, prodigious variety, and harmony of his voice make him the greatest favorite of the lovers of the beauty of nature. Coleridge wrote thus of this bird : — " The merry nightingale, That crowds and hurries and precipitates, With fast, thick warble, his delicious notes, As if he were fearful that an April night Would be too short for him to utter forth His love-chant, and disburden his full soul Of all its music." He will sometimes dwell for several seconds on a strain composed of only two or three melancholy tones ; beginning in an under voice, and swelling it gradually by a most superb crescendo to the high- est point of strength, he ends it by a dyin^ cadence. His very striking musical talent, surpassing all other singing-birds, has acquired for him the name of the King of Songsters. When caged and well treated, they will sing for six or eight months during the year : some begin in December, some in January, and some in February, and sing till the month of July. Th^ next of old England's warblers is the Black-Cap. — He is a most delightful singer, and is called the next best to the nightingale. His notes, though quite different, are no less admirable, and are heard throughout the year, during the whole day, except in the moulting season. He begins quite piano, Vv^ith several strains of warbling, and ends THE SKYLARK AND WOODLARK. 39 with loud, most joyful, flutelike notes. Caged, he requires the same food as all soft-bill birds. The next favorite of the Old Country — and he also has hosts of friends in America — is The Skylark, — " The crested herald of the morn, that springs Up from his grassy flight, Seeming to rain down music from his wings, And bathe his plumage in the fount of light."* This beautiful warbler is spread all over Europe, and has the most peculiar manner of flying of any of the feathered tribe, his movement being invaria- bly upwards in a perpendicular line ; after leaving his grassy abode, beginning his melodious song, which h^ continues unceasingly till nearly out of sight, looking like a mere speck, towards the heav- ens, and even then you may hear his -sweet voice dying away as if in the clouds ; when he descends in like manner, still continuing to gratify his hearers below with his own peculiar melody till within a short distance from his nest, then, silently alighting, hiding himself in the grass, fearing, as if by instinct, some straggling wanderers were watching his move- ments, to find out the spot to " rob a bird's nest," when he creeps along, quite unseen, to visit his home and little family. The Woodlark is also a beautiful bird, and re- sembles the skylark in color, but is smaller, and is one of the sweetest singers in Europe, his song 40 THE ENGLISH ROBIN REDBREAST. being a combination of beautiful, thrilling, and soft, flutelike notes, and quite free from any shrill or unpleasant ones. The food of both birds is the same as the American mocking-bird. Another English bird that is becoming popular with Americans is The English Robln Redbreast. — This bird is thought very much of in Europe, particularly in England, being lively and a very handsome bird. It is easily tamed, so as to be let out of its cage, and play about a room. It possesses a sweet warbling song. This bird is very fond of bathing, and should therefore be daily provided with a bath ; but, when allowed to fly about a room, care must be taken not to leave a pitcher, or any large vessel with water, within its reach, as it is very apt to take to such, and frequently gets drowned. It being a.soft-bill bird, its food is the same as the preceding birds. The following verse is an extract from a very pretty and pathetic poem, written on the far-famed story of "The Death of the Babes in the Wood:" — 'No burial these pretty babes Of any man receives ; But Robin Redbreast painfully Did cover them with leaves." The family of thrushes have long been known to Americans, and require from us but a few lines. We can certainly say that the SONG THRUSH AND BLACKBIRD. 41 Song Thrush is a most melodious singer, being gifted with a more powerful tone than any of the feathered choristers of the European forest. This speckled musician pleases with delight, and satisfies, as it were, the very soul of the listener. In the wild state, it only sings during the spring ; but, when caged and properly treated, will sing eight or nine months of the year, commencing about December or January. It is for this reason, as well as for its beautiful song, that the thrush is so much kept in cages, and domesticated. Food same as preceding. The Blackbird, whose plumage is of a pure vel- vety black, with an orange-yellow bill, is a fine song- ster. The notes, though not so various as those of the thrush, still are of a more sweet, flutelike tone. Besides this, he possesses the ability of imitating airs which are whistled to him : these he executes to great perfection. When in a wild state, this bird^ only sings about three months in the year ; when caged, sings nearly throughout the year. His food and treatment may be the same as we described for the thrush. We consider the blackbird, when in full plumage and in good health, a very handsome bird, and therefore are scarcely inclined to agree with an anonymous poet who says, — " I could not think so plain a bird Could sing so sweet a song." And now comes the last of the European birds that find their way ta America, — 42 THE STARLING AND MOCKING-BIRD. The Starling. — His natural song is rather poor ; but he has a wonderfully good memory. He will learn to repeat several airs that are played to him, with great ease, — nay, more, he learns to pronounce words very distinctly, or imitate the song of other birds, or any sounds when repeatedly heard. Be- sides this, he becomes very tame in the house, so as to be let out of the cage, and walk about the room. He soon knows all the persons in the house, is al- ways gay and wakeful, and as docile and cunning as a dog. His food and treatment may be the same as that of the thrush. He is a very hardy bird, and will sometimes attain the age of fifteen years. Having treated quite thoroughly the songsters of old England, Ireland, and Germany, we will now take up our own loved American birds ; and to America belongs the finest and best bird in the world, ^ — The American Mocking-Bird. — This unrivalled songster, though he may not possess the melodious sweetness of the nightingale and lark, or the beau- tiful pipe of the blackbird, yet in himself he unites all the excellences to a greater extent than any other living bird. Who, on passing through the streets of any large city on a bright night in June, has not heard the shrill scream of the eagle, the mourning note of the turtle-dove, the delicate warble of the blue-bird, the cackling of the domes- tic hen, followed by the quarrelling of a dozen or more grimalkins^ each seeming to vie with the- other as to the quantity of noise ; then the cry of the MOCKING-BIRD FOOD. 43 katydid, tlue mellow whistle of the cardinal, the grunt of the maternal porker searching for her juveniles, the creaking of some rusty swing-sign- board, the pipe of the canary, and the cry of some lost puppy wailing in the midnight air, and each succeeding the other with such rapidity, that the listener wonders if such a variety can come from so small an object. All this the mocking-bird is capable of. The mocking-bird is a general favorite, and deserves to be attentively cared for. He is particular, and should be fed and watered at the same time every day. His cage should be large, and kept very clean, with plenty of gravel. His food should be Reiche's prepared Mocking-Bird Food. — All other mocking-bird foods are only worthless imita- tions of this, and, in many cases, have been found to be very injurious to the bird. .It is in bottles all ready for use. In boxes, it will need the addition of grated carrot. The box food is the cheapest and best. A good way is to change every few weeks from one to the other. An addition of ants' eggs occasionally with their food (Chas. Reiche & Bro. are the only importers of them) is very beneficial ; a little sweet apple grated up with the food gives it a very fine flavor, and often restores the appetite when it seems quite poor. A Supply of Insects should be gathered during the proper season, such as flies, grasshoppers, spi- ders, &c., and put loosely in a paper bag, and hung up to dry ; and, when used in winter, they should 44 MOCKING-BIRD FOOD. have boiling water poured over them, which will soften them, and make them as palatable as if they were still alive. A grasshopper thus prepared is a Thanksgiving dinner to your bird. Zante currants, the same as used for cake, washed clean, soaked over night, and wiped dry, also make a dainty morsel. Meal-Worms give a bird a great deal of life, and, being the richest of food, should only be given occasionally, say six to ten worms in a week. Every owner of a soft-bill bird should raise a stock of meal-worms. The process is very simple, and con- sists in first taking an old box or jar, and placing therein a quantity of bran or meal, — in fact, any fari- naceous meal, — a few biscuit or part of a loaf of bread, a few pieces af leather from an old, worn-out boot or shoe, and some woollen rags ; place therein a few meal-worms, — say fifty, — and then cover the opening tightly with a thick cloth. If this cloth is moistened with water occasionally, they will breed faster ; and, if not disturbed, at the expiration of from four to six months, you will have thousands. MocKiNG-BiRDS HAVE DISEASES. — Should your bird's feathers stand loosely all over, and he still seem healthful, give him cooling food only. Should your bird be dumpish and stupid, a few spiders will usually cure him. Should he refuse to eat, examine his tongue, and you probably will find on it a horny scale : this must be removed with great care, as, if allowed to remain, your bird will surely die. To remove this scale, hold the bird on his back firmly MOCKING-BIRD DISEASES. 45 with one hand, and, with the finger-nail of the other hand, gently peel this scale from the tongue. Care- fully watch the bird's droppings, and immediately apply the cure for illness. DiARRHCEA IS CURED by a very rusty nail placed in his drinking-cup, and the reverse by insect food, or water with a few ants' eggs soaked in it. Blind- ness is not to be cured ; and the bird thus attacked will shortly die, its spirit being broken by the illness. During the month of May, sometimes earlier, all birds have what is called the Mating Fever. — They grow melancholy, allow their feathers to grow rough, cease to " plume themselves " before retiring, waste away, and die. All lovers of birds must have observed that a bird never goes to sleep without arranging, just* before dark, eveiy feather. The uniformity and tedious- ness of a bird's life, confined in a cage, that was not bred in one, is the cause of this mating-fever. They have an ungratified sensual desire. In many instances they forget their inclination for freedom and a mate, by simply changing the cage, and hang- ing near a window, where their time will be taken up in watching new surroundings. MocKiNG-BiRD Lice are a great annoyance to a bird, and should be gotten rid of. This is best done by placing the bird in another perfectly clean cage ; then steep some fine-cut chewing tobacco in water, and, with a very weak solution, wash the bird very thoroughly, particularly under the wings ; then place a white cloth or towel on top of the box, 46 BIRD-LICE AND IMPROPER FOOD. and they will crawl up, and in a few days you will be rid of them. Clean your cage very thoroughly before you replace your bird therein ; and, with proper attention to cleanliness, you will not again be troubled with them. Experience has taught us that nine-tenths of the ailments of birds are caused by improper feeding. Bits of sugar, candy, daily green food, grapes, meat from the table, — all are bad for any bird. Birds need plain food, regularly given. Seed-birds require seed free from dust ; other birds, food mixed daily in clean vessels. A bath should be given the mocking- bird daily ; and the vessel should be removed iiom. the cage when the bird has bathed. You can soon teach any bird to bathe directly when you give him his bath, if you give it to him at the same hour each day. If irregular yourself, the bird will contract the same habit. These remarks on the mocking-bird will also apply to the thrush, starling, lark, nightingale, robin, black- cap, and, in fact, all the family of soft-bill birds. In doctoring your sick bird, ascertain as nearly as possible what his complaint is, and apply the rem- edy ; if it does not succeed, try another. Birds have been known to be at the point of death with cos- tiveness, when a small spider has been forced down their throats, and a large knitting-needle, dipped into oil, inserted into the passage as an injection, and the bird caused to fly a few feet, when imme- diate relief followed, and in a few hours the bird was acrain in songr. THE BOBOLINK AND VIRGINIA NIGHTINGALE. 4/ The bird which, in quality of song, ranks nex't to the mocking-bird, is ~" The Bobolink. — This bird has received his name from a peculiar song, of his own, in which he ex- presses very distinctly the words " bob-o-Unk " several times in succession. They are found all over the United States in the summer season in great num- bers, but migrate southerly when cold weather approaches. Their song is a confused, merry jingle of notes, of about the quality of the canaiy, but without any method whatever. They are easily domesticated to cage-life, and, when fed on noth- ing but canary-seed (no hemp), will sing about eight months of the year. They are hardy, and will live many years. The author owned one that- was sent to the World's Fair in 185 1, and, after taking the first prize in Europe, came safely back to America. Following this bird in attractive qualities of song as well as of plumage is the Virginia Nightingale, sometimes called the Vir- ginia red-bird, sometimes the cardinal. It is a native of the Southern States, and one of the hand- somest birds of the New World. Its color is of a brilliant red, with the exception of the throat and the part round the beak, which are black. The head is ornamented with a tuft, which it is capable of raising, giving it a very commanding appearance. Together with its beautiful plumage, this bird is gifted with a very sweet, pleasing song, or rather whistle, which sounds almost like the playing of a flageolet, being very pleasant to the ear. It is a 48 THE TNDIGO-BIRD AND NONPAREIL. very hardy bird, and easily taken care of, and is kept in cages in this country as well as in Europe. It should be fed with a mixture of canary and hemp seed and rough (unhulled) rice, to which may be added a little fresh green food, or a piece of apple occasionally. When properly treated, this bird often attains the age of fifteen years ; though it will fade away from the beautiful scarlet red to a delicate shade of pink. The next attractive bird is The Indigo Bird. — This is one of America's sweet-voiced warblers, and is a native of our own sunny South, visiting the Northern States when warm weather has fairly established itself. Its color is a beautiful shade of indigo blue, and its size the same as the canary. Its song, though short, is quite agreeable, and by many considered very sweet. It will become very tame, and live many years in con- finement. If fed upon nothing but canary, millet, and rape seed, with occasionally a little green stuff, with the addition of a bath daily, it will keep in excellent condition and song.. Another favorite of the Southern States, and one which is never seen north of Southern Virginia, is the Nonpareil. — He is what his name indicates, — *' without an equal ; " his many hues giving him, in 1872, the name of "Dolly Varden." They are the most beautiful cage-birds, and have only to be seen to be' admired. Their song, though not so strong as the indigo-bird, is equally agreeable, and their food the same, with the addition, in summer weather, of live flies, of which they are passionately fond. THE GROSBEAK AND AMERICAN ROBIN. 49 Another beautiful bird, but rarely seen caged, is the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. — This very elegant bird is but little known ; yet but few of our domestic birds much surpass it in sweetness of song or beauty of plumage. It sings by night as well as by day, and its notes are very clear and mellow. Its great rarity in the wild state accounts for the fact that it is so seldom seen caged ; yet no bird can be more highly prized, its bright carmine breast and deep black and sno\vy white body forming* such a rich contrast. During; the summer it wanders into the high northern latitudes, wintering in the Middle States. Caged, it becomes very tame in a remark- ably short space of time, and, being well contented in confinement, lives many years. It usually keeps in the best of health if fed upon nothing but canary- seed. Being rather a greedy bird, if hemp or un- hulled rice (unless it seems to require it) is fed it, it will eat until it is with difficulty that it can move from the bottom of the cage. The American Robin, from his proved docil- ity, and power to imitate even tunes that may be taught him when young, is becoming, as well as the mocking-bird, a favorite for the cage. When taken from the nest and brought up by hand, and conse- quently tame, he can in a short space of time be taught a tune of considerable length, which he will whistle with accuracy, and in its accomplishment exhibit considerable musical ability. Their treat- ment is the same as the American mocking-bird. 4 50 THE GOLDEN ROBIN, SONG SPARROW, The Golden Roein, sometimes called the Balti- more oriole, sometimes lire-bird, and several other names in different parts of the Union, is veiy similar in appearance to the South American troopial, be- ing, however, but two-thirds its size, and not of as hardy constitution, nor has it the capacity for learn- ing tricks. Its song is a low, sweet, mellow whistle. If is, however, kept more for its beauty of plumage than song. In confinement, it should be treated the same as a mocking-bird. The bird that ranks next in song is The Song Sparrow. — It is seldom that he is seen caged, probably on account of the plainness of his wardrobe. He has for a song, though a short one, quite a variety of notes, commencing very much like the admired water-note of the canary. This he will repeat many times in succession, and also an endless number of times a day. He is a playful bird, and hours can be pleasantly passed in watching his antics. Caged, he should be fed the same as the canary. Next in order comes the bird of all birds for the boys, — The American Yellow Bird, or what in reality is the American goldfinch. This beautiful lemon- colored bird, with a black cap and black and white wing^ has always been a favorite with Americans ; and thousands are caught eveiy season by means of trap-cages, using almost any bird for a decoy. They are a sweet though very quiet songster. If fed upon maw, millet, and a little canary-seed (the YELLOW BIRD, AND RED LINNET. 5I two latter should be soaked a little), and othenvise treated as a canary, they have been known to 'live ten years in confinement. The next American bird that is usually kept as a cage-bird, and almost wholly for his song, is the common Red Linnet. — This beautiful singing, or 'we might ahiiost say whistling, bird, is one that should be as universally kept as the canaiy. Its song is equally as sweet, and it will sing for ten months of the year, or the whole season, excepting during the time of moulting. Its song consists of a variety of low, connected, sweet-sounding notes, which are never harsh to the ear ; and if kept near other birds, its power of imitation being very good, will soon add many beautiful notes to its already sweet song. If kept near fowls, it will soon learn the cackle of the domestic hen, and even give a veiy good imitation of the crowing of chanticleer. In confinement, it becomes very tame, and, if fed sparingly, will live a great number of years. It should be fed almost exclusively on rape and canaiy seed, and at times even a shoft alIo7uance of that. As before remarked, it becomes tame, and also very indolent ; and, though a constant singer, it is no exertion for it to sing, and it in reality has no ex- ercise. If it has hemp-seed fed it, it veiy soon has a giddiness followed by epilepsy, and shortly after by death. It is fond of bathing, and we might say of two kinds : first, like the skylark, in plenty of gravel (of which there must be an Abundance in the 52 THE PARROT. cage) ; and second, it is very fond of water, and a bathing-dish must be given it daily. Its diseases are similar to all seed-eating birds in .confinement ; and the treatment must be the same, for which see article on Sick Birds. This bird finishes the Amer- ican birds of song usually kept in cages. The bird which next attracts our attention, and one that is found the world over and universally kept, is a native of Africa, known as the Gray Parrot, which, by its docility and affec- tionate conduct towards those who treat it kindly, and its wonderful power of imitating the human voice, has", with all its awkwardness, a very strong hold upon the human family. The very best spe- cies of the parrot is the African, which has a fine ashen-gray color, with a black bill, white face, and scarlet tail. These birds, either male or female, make excellent talkers : they can also be taught a tune, which they will sing or whistle perfectly ; and while they will seemingly forget m.any words and sen- tences which they have once pronounced perfectly, yet they never forget a song if it is once thoroughly taught them. The next parrot in attractive quali- ties is the green, with white over his bill. This bird makes an excellent talker, is equally as docile as the gray, and attains a great age. Another spe- cies very much admired is the yellow-head parrot. This, as well as several other varieties, is univer- sally kept and admired. The parrot, like all other birds, is liable to disease ; but with care it can be kept in nearl/ perfect health. In order to take THE PARROT. 5^ proper care of a bird, cleanliness first always," then place plenty of gravel in the cage, feed at a regular and stated time, always feeding the most simple and plain or coarse food. In its native country it feeds upon the seeds of the sunflower and the various grains, and with its exercise in its wild state does not grow too fleshy. Caged, it must be fed vastly diiferent. A good food for parrots is cold boiled potatoes, stale bread or crackers soaVed sometimes in water, sometimes in milk, and some- times in coffee, using the coffee just as it is leached or boiled, without the addition of milk or sugar. Bread soaked in coffee is a delicate morsel, and one of which a parrot is very fond. They also like canary-seed, unhulled rice, cracked corn, and hemp- seed. Of the two latter, very little should be given them ; and they should never have fed to them greasy food from the table, — sugar, cake, candy, or any such trash. A piece of apple or a little green stuff occasionally does no harm. Peanuts, forming a part of their native food, can always be given them. These rules followed, your parrot should be healthy. There are but two diseases that alike annoy the parrot and its owner; and a constant inquiry at bird-stores is, "What makes my parrot pull his feathers out ? " The reply invariably is, " You feed your bird too highly." And we will here remark that the parrot, like almost the majority of the human family, is afflicted with some kind of a skin disease, and the feeding of rich food drives this disease to the surface, causing an eruption, and a 5* 54 THE PARROT. consequent itching sensation, which the parrot re-, lieves by pulling out its feathers. The only remedy for parrots addicted to this habit is to feed them on either raw or boiled carrots and well-roasted pea- nuts. These are both cooling foods, being entirely free from grease of any kind. They also require showering with cold water from three to six times per day ; and, as they should only be showered with a spi;^y of water, it would be well to put a piece of rub- ber tube on the end of a faucet, and, holding the fin- ger nearly close across the end, cause the water to fall in a spray upon the bird. When it is not con- venient to thus shower a bird, a mouthful of water blown over the bird will answer every purpose. Should your parrot be attacked with diarrhoea (which, if he is properly cared for, he will not be), he should have, all green food, fruit, &c., taken away, and be fed upon mjlk which has been boiled away, say at least a quarter, and thickened with the least mite of Graham flour, so called, with the ad- dition of a very\ very little red pepper. If this does not effect a cure in from one to three days, then give him stale bread soaked in warm sherry-wine, which has had a very little burnt sugar added thereto, — not, however, giving this until the other has failed. Even these remedies usually efficacious have failed at the time when a parrot was shedding his feathers ; and whole peppers and spices of various kinds are given the bird, but without the desired effect. " The hist remedy for this painful disease is laudanum or THE PARROT. 5^ pctTogoric. If the latter, five drops in a teaspoon of milk, poured dovni the bird's throat, and the dose repeated every half-hour until relief comes, when discontinue, and feed a little plain food, and keep the bird 'covered up in a shawl or piece of blanket, and \n a warm place, until again restored to health. If the bird has sore feet, occasioned only by a dirty cage, and not using sand freely, first put sand into the cage, then wash his feet in lukewarm vs^ater, first adding a little tincture of arnica thereto. If 3'our parrot is troubled with costiveness, green fruit and exercise outside the cage is the best remedy. If gouty, which they will show by their feet swell- ing, and a partial closing of the claws, immerse the feet in quite w^arm water once or more per day, and soak them for ten or fifteen minutes ; dry thoroughly, and in a week or ten days a cure will be effected. Sometmies v/ith old cases it takes even longer. If your bu'd is troubled with fits,' a sprinkling with cold water usually effects a cure. Should you be trou- bled with lice on your parrot, you can wash him with a strong solution of tobacco, made by steeping a little chewing-tobacco in water, or a very little flower of sulphur can be sprinkled among the feath- ers. These comprise about all the ailments of the par- rot family ; and the remedies here laid down for their treatment also apply to the dwarf parrot, or what are more commonly known as paroquets : but with care (not too much care) you will be relieved of these troublesome complaints. 56 THE AUSTRALIAN PAROQUET. The Australian Paroquet. — This ver}^ beautiful and eccentric bird has but recently been introduced into this country ; yet it possesses so many desira- ble qualifications that it has at once become a well- known member of the "bird family." This bird is a native of the island from whence it takes its name ; and in its wild state leads a retired and sequestered life, sometimes alone, and again in pairs. During mating season, they are found in pairs, and in im- mense numbers, the male and female each singing to the other incessantly. As they are inhabitants of the earth, where they build their nests, they are rarely found in trees. Their plumage is a beautiful shade of green, with a few brownish or black feath- ers upon the back, and the-feathers of the head a bright lemon color ; which, added to the bright blue spots around the head and neck, make them a beauti- ful and attractive bird. They easily become domes- ticated to cage-life, and are capable of being taught many amusing tricks. They are hardy birds, and easily endure the cold winters of the north ; the au- thor once having placed a pair v/here water froze to the depth of an inch, and this, too, without any per- ceptible injury to the birds. They should be fed wholly upon canary-seed, and allowed frequent baths. With this treatment they will continue in perfect health for many years. A bird that is now very much admired for the beauty of his plumage, as well as his exquisite pow- ers of song, is the pet of the tropics, — South American Troopial. — This bird has a THE TROOPIAL AND CARDINAL. 57 beautiful rich plumage, and looks very much like our American golden robin, or what is known as the Baltimore oriole, the chief difference being that it is much larger in size, and the orange of the body being more of a yellow. It is one of the feathered tribe of the tropics, gifted with great powers of song. Being extremely docile, they are great favorites for the cage, and in confinement become so tame that they will hop on your hand' at call. Their song is a very powerful yet pleasant whistle of clear and varied notes. They are extremely ac- tive and very graceful in their movcQients, and re- quire a cage the same size that a mocking-bird is usually confined in. In their wild state their food consists of insects and berries ; caged, they require the same food and treatment as the mocking-bird. There are few wild birds, which, when confined, be- come so thoroughly domesticated as the troopial. They can be taught with little trouble to accept food from the hand, to fly to and perch upon the one who regularly attends to their daily requirements ; and their extreme docility is a fact protven beyond a doubt. The Brazilian Cardinal. — This is one of the beautiful whistling birds of the tropics, and is justly admired as a cage-bird. His brilliant scarlet head, which is ornamented with a tuft or crest, forms a beautiful contrast with the snowy white of his body. In addition to his beautiful plumage, he is also gifted with powers of song, which consist of a series of connected, low, sweet, whistling notes.- If fed upon nothing but unhulled rice and canary-seed, 58 JAVA AND ENGLISH SPARROW, and given plenty of bathing water, he will live many years in confinement Another very pretty bird, a native of the East "Indies, and very much kept in cages, — mostly, however, for their beaut}^, ^ — is the Java Sparrow, who takes his name from the Java Islands, where they abound in immense numbers. Their chief recommendation is the great neatness, and, 3^ou might say, beauty, of plumage ; their glossy black head, with clear white cheeks, and delicate rose-colored bill, that looks like a piece of wax-work ; and their light-slate or almost ashen-gray body, forming one of the richest combinations of colors. They become very tame in confinement, and occasionally one is seen that can in reality be called a bird of song. They can be taught a variety of amusing tricks, and, perhaps more than any other caged bird, will perform their tricks at command, with the seeming fear of a child. The English Sparrow. — The English sparrow, now so commonly seen in all of the parks, and in fact streets, of New York, Brooklyn, Jersey City, and Hoboken, was. first introduced by the Messrs. Reiche in 1858. The cost of the first importation was partly paid by Mr. W. H. Scheifiellin, who had a quantity of them set free in the garden of his pala- tial residence in Madison Square, New- York City. The quantity of sparrows now seen around the Fifth- Avenue Hotel are descendants of this first importa- tion. The remainder of the sparrows were given their liberty by Mr. Henry Reiche in the Central Park. How they have increased and multiplied, we ENGLISH SPARROW. 59 need not inform our readers who are in the habit of visiting the metropolis of America, and how faith- fully they have devoured all worms and insects that formerly ruined the beautiful trees ; and we might say they have been the saving of the fruit-crop the whole lensfth of the Hudson River. Gardens which had 'not a currant in them for years, and apple- orchards that had ceased to bear, — were all in fine bearing order the same season the sparrows were introduced. The question is often asked, "Do these birds destroy seed after planting?" We answer. No : they are an insect-eating bird, and never eat or scratch seed. They are consequently the farmer's best friend. In reply to a question, "How many broods do they raise in a year?" In New York and vicinity they raise four, broods in a season, and will doubt- less do the same in any part of the country ; and they never rear less than four to a brood, often- times six birds. If our farmers and gardeners knew how destructive they were to insects, and how their crops would be increased by their introduction, they would give the subject their earnest consideration. The sparrows now sold are all raised in New York and its vicinity, and of course are thoroughly accli- mated ; so no fears need- be entertained of their dying from change of climate. What the " Old-World Sparrow " will do was very happily told by W^illiam Cullen Bryant, after passing an evening with the late Mr. Sheiffellin in 1858. His beautiful poem tells a better story of the sparrow than we possibly could. 60 ENGLISH SPARROW. To those who propose introducing this bird, either private individuals or town or city authorities, v/e would suggest the propriety of sending their orders during the months of January and February. The sparrows ordered at that time will be ready for de- livery at a date not later than the 15th of April. At this time they begin mating, and are engaged in building their nests, and consequently cannot be caught and transported to other places without dan- ger to them, and loss of life, which, if persisted in, would speedily exterminate all the sparrows which have cost ATnerica immense sums of money^ Lovers of sparrows who desire introducing them, and have neglected ordering during the months of January and February, and who do not reside north of Port- land, can order at any time in the summer, and re- ceive them during the months of October and No- vember. The birds sent at this time are hardy, and require but little care, the main point being to sup- ply them with soft food, such as stale bread, &c. If the snow should remain for a considerable length of time, it would be well to sweep a piece of ground, thereby enabling them to procure gravel, which is of the utmost importance for proper digestion and con- sequent health. TflE OLD-WORLD SPARROW. BY WILLIAM C. BRYANT. We hear the note of a stranger bird, That ne'er till now in our land was heard : A winged settler has taken his place With Teutons and men of the Celtic race. THE OLD-WORLD SPARROW. 6l He has followed their path to our hemisphere,— The Old- World sparrow at last is here. He meets not here, as beyond the main, The fowler's snare and the poisoned grain ; But snug-built homes on the friendly tree, And grubs for his chirping family Are strewn when the winter fields are drear ; For the Old- World sparrow is welcome h ere. The insect legions that sting our fruit, And strip the leaves from the growing shoot, — A swarming, skulking, ravenous tribe, Which Harris and Fitch so well describe. But cannot destroy, — may quail with fear ; For the Old- World sparrow, their foe, is here. The apricot, in the summer ray, May ripen now on the loaded spray ; . And the nectarine on the garden-walk, Keep firm its hold on the parent stalk ; And the plum its fragrant fruitage rear ; For the Old-World sparrow, their friend, is here. That pest of gardens — the little Turk Who signs with the crescent his wicked work, And causes the half-grown fruit to fall — Shall be seized and swallowed, in spite of all His sly devices of cunning and fear ; For the Old- World sparrow, his foe, is here. And the army-worm and the Hessian fly And the dreaded canker-worm shall die ; And the thrip and slug and fruit-moth seek In vain to escape that busy beak ; And fairer harvests shall crown the year ; For the Old-World sparrow at last is here. 6 * 62 FINCHES. Finches for the Aviary. — These pretty little creatures are charming pets lor the drawing-room, and of the utmost interest to the lover of birds. They are kept more particularly for their beauty of plumage. They are thoroughly happy in each other's society, and sit all together in a row, on a long perch, packed as closely as possible, caressing and pluming each other. There are many varieties ; and they may be classed under the general terms of Waxbills and Avadavats. — Chief among the many, we would mention the waxbills, which do not, as a general rule, sing any thing like a song ; but they chirp considerably, and it is a soft, pleasant warble. The > orange-cheeked waxbill is a beautiful smooth little bird, always as neat as possible, with every feather; in its place, vermilion beak, gray head, neck and throat brown. The female is about the same in general a^Dpearance. The zebra, or orange-breasted waxbill, is quite small, but very pleasing ; and, as he is scarcely three inches long, he is considered desirable. The St. Helena waxbills are considerably larger, being about four inches and a half in length. A remarkable feature of this species is, that all the feathers have transverse, blackish, wavy lines over them, and look very soft and silky. The gray-blue is of delicate slate-color over the whole body, with silvery-white sjDOts on the sides. The courdon bleu, or, as some call this well-known finch, crimson-eared waxbill, is also an African bird, and one of great beauty. The male has a soft, pleasing song, and is usually to be heard FINCHES. 63 cooing, as if for his own amusement. This little fellow has a peculiar habit of singing with a bit of twine, or something which he can hold, in his bill. If he can find a piece of cotton, or a stalk of any kind, he will hop about his cage, and sing to his utmost. The spice bird, also known as the " nut- meg^' and " cinnamon bird," and described by some authors under the name of "gowry" or " gowry grosbeak." These birds are somewhat larger than the African finches, and are equally entertaining. They are of various colors, but are generally found with the head, neck, throat, and upper part of the body a rich brown, the breast and sides white, wings and tail brown. The male has a peculiar song, which will hardly attract attention, save that the female regards it as pleasing ; for she always places her head close to her mate's while he is singing, and is evidently unwilling to lose a single note. The silverbill, or quaker bird, somewhat resembles the spice bird in shape and size. The male has a pretty warbling song, and he will often dance upon his perch, as if keeping time to his melody. When kept in couples, they become very affectionate, and devote the greater part of their time to preening and caressing each other. There is also an Indian silverbill; l)ut they are not as common, though occasionally they can be found. The red-tailed finch is also a pretty bird, having a ver- milion beak. The wings, back, and head are grayish, the breast nearly the same color, dotted with whitish spots j the under part of the body a pale straw color ; 64 FINCHES. the tail a bright red. The male has an agreeable song. The amanclava finch is a native of India. They are somewhat smaller than' the St. Helena waxbill. As they vary somewhat in color, and as it is not until they are two or three years old that they come to their perfect plmnage, it is somewhat difficult to describe their appearance so that it would be of use to those in search of this charming little warbler. As a rule, the best birds have the head and under part of the body a bright red, with an occasional black feather ; the back a light brown, and the 'tail black. The fire finch bears a strong resemblance to the avadavats, at certain seasons of the year. It is somewhat larger, but has little or no song. They are kept particularly for their beauty and cheerful disposition. The saffron finch is in many respects similar to the canary, though not -quite as large. In point of color, however, the finch is miore desirable, as the shades are of brighter tints. These birds come from Brazil, and are greatly sought after for the aviary, as they are of the most sociable disposition, and live in the utmost agreement with their comrades. The Cuba and negro finch have recently been introduced into this market, and with a good degree of success ; also the Queenisland or Rockhampton finches, which are brought from Australia. The banded finch is another choice bird, and one which will speedily become a favorite. The whole body is of a rich chest- nut-brown, both above and below; the upper and under tail coverts white, and the tail black. The dia- FINCHES. 65 mond sparrow, or " spotted-sided finch," is also a native of Australia. It is a short, stout bird, some- what larger than the St. Helena waxbill. The under part of the body is white, and the sides under the wings quite black, with oblong white spots ; the lower part of the back and upper tail-feathers are of a deep carmine. They have the utmost desire to catch flies, and, if allowed the liberty of a room, will rush to the window, and remain by the hour catching them. They can be made remarkably tame, and can be trusted without their cage to a consider- able extent. Their song is limited. The cut-throat sparrow, sometimes called " Indian sparrow," or "fascinated linch," is about half the size of an Eng- lish sparrow. It is of a delicate grayish-fawn color, spangled with white spots. They have a soft, deli- cate twitter, which can scarcely be called a song. The " little doctor " is from the South- American ports. The plumage of the male is of a beautiful shade of bluish-black, with an occasional white spot. They have a habit of sitting in the middle of their perch, and holding up one foot, singing to each other for hours. They can easily be tamed. There are numerous other varieties, including the magpie finch, celestial, negro, nuns, both black and white capped, &c., &c. These birds can be kept in one cage, and indeed they are miserable without companions ; and, if two birds of different species lose their respective mates, they are almost sure to console themselves and to consort together. They should be fed upon millet-seed, and given a bath 6* 66 WHYDAH BIRD. daily ; but great care should be taken that they are kept in a warm room, and, if possible, in the warm rays of the sun. When moulting, a pinch of Cayenne pepper, sprinkled on the sand in the bottom of the cage, once or twice a w^eek, will be found beneficial. They are fond of the sun, and delight to bask in its warmth ; but care must be taken not to leave them exposed to cold draughts or the dampness of the night air. With the above precautions, all these birds can be kept in cages for many years. The Paradise Whydah Bird is a well-known cage-bird, and one of great beauty. Some fanciers have given this bird the name of " the widow," from its quiet manner and its general color of plumage. The name is really that of a kingdom oh the east coast of Africa. The great beauty of the paradise why- dah bird is in its curiously-formed tail, the two centre-feathers of which are very broad, and about four inches long : the outer feathers are in some cases from thirteen to sixteen inches in length, broad in the centre, and tapering down to a delicate point. These birds are easily kept in aviaries, and in Southern France they have been bred in cages. The shaft-tailed whydah is a smaller and much more delicate bird : the tail is entirely different from the paradise whydah, yet quite as interesting. It is short and fan-shaped ; the body of the middle feathers is extended into naked quills, which are about seven or eight inches long. The song of this species is of excellent quality. The weavers are a most companionable bird: they are brought from WEAVERS. 67 Africa, India, and parts of the Asiatic islands. Their weaving instincts are exliibited upon every possible occasion : they will gather every piece of thread, blade of grass, or whatever of that nature may come in their way, and weave it into the wires of their cage after the most fantastic fashion. One could pass the entire day watching the workings of these ingenious and industrious little fellows. If their friends do not provide for their weaving wants, they will resort to the most extraordinary means whereby they can supply themselves. They will try to steal the trimmings of ladies' dresses, and will be continu- ally pilfering grass and straw from other cages, which they will weave into the most fantastic forms. The author once owned a pair, which he kept in a cage with larger birds. These little fellows would weave the legs of the larger birds so tightly together that their bonds required cutting. There is a species of the weaver which is called by some the grenadier gros- beak. This bird should be termed the bishop bird, and, when in full plumage, is certainly very beautiful. It will live with other birds, and is apt to become very sociaUle with its companions, who will be caaght in the meshes of its weaving if not upon their guard. So far as possible in a volume of this size, the description of finches will be found to be complete and reliable. These birds are all suitable for the aviary ; but the following birds can be placed with them by those who de- sire to make a more extended collection : canary, goldfinch, linnet, bulfinch, chaffinch, greenfinch, 6S BIRDS FOR AVIARY. siskin, American goldfinch, indigo bird, nonpareil, song sparrow, Java sparrow, Australian paroquets, love birds, mountain finch, rose bunting, cardinal grosbeak or Virginia nightingale, red -breasted grosbeak, Brazilian cardinal, crossbill, pine gros- beak, hawfinch, and sparrow. Of course the bird famil}^, like all others, is liable to domestic troubles. Sometimes a bird of certain species will become troublesome, and destroy the quiet and happiness of the entire family. When such a one is found, he should be taken out and exchanged at a first-class bird-stor-e for another of its kind : by this means the aviary will become a model of quietness and har- mony. The house of Charles Reiche & Brother have experienced a great deal of trouble, especially in earlier years, from the enormous duties which they were obligecTto pay as customs for the importation of foreign birds. In order to facilitate the importation of choice birds from the different countries, this house for many years paid heavy duties under pro- test, while they carried on a suit with the government of the United States. It was only after a number of years, and after the case had passed through every court to the Supreme Court of the United States, that Chief Justice Chase decided, in 1872, that a bird was not an animal, and therefore, by the letter of the law, exempt from duty. Since that decision, the lovers of birds have been able to procure them • at a low rate in comparison to that which they would have been obliged to pay, had it not been for the persever- ance of Messrs. Charles Reiche & Brother. BIRD-SEED. 69 Bird-seed. — Very few persons are aware how much a bird's health, and consequently its song, depends upon the selection of seed. There are as many qualities or grades of canary-seed as there are qualities or grades of flour. Is all flour alike 1 If it is, then all seed is alike. The qual- ity of canary-seed is usually based by dealers in seed upon the price per bushel, — it varying from $2.15 to $4.70 at present writing (May, 1873). The very best seed is the Sicily Canary. — It is a very plump and heavy- feeling seed, and is extremely palatable to the bird. A sample of this seed — enough to last one bird two 7?io?iths — will be sent by mail, prepaid, on re- ceipt of twenty-five cents. The German Summer Rape-seed is excellent for birds, and should always be given them. It is their only food in Germany, where they are reared, and, being of a very cooling nature, will always keep the bird in excellent condition ; though, if fed on this exclusively, he will not sing as much as if his seed were mixed with canary, — the canary giving the bird life and animation. A package of clear rape, or rape and canary mixed, will be sent the same as the clear canary, and at same price. The next seed which is used, and often by persons en- .tirely ignorant of its nature, is Hemp-seed. — This is a very rich, oily, sweet seed, and very much loved by birds of every species. Wheii mixed with other seeds, the bird never fails to scatter all other around the room, searching 70 BIRD-SEED. for this dainty morsel, and, so long as he has one seed, will not taste either rape or canary. This, being the richest of all seed, should be fed very sparingly. If the bird is in health and song, never give hemp ; for it only fattens, and, if constantly fed, will ruin the song. Occasionally a bird seems deli- cate, and is a very small eater : in such a case give a few hemp, — and only a few, unless the bird be a long breed, in which case give about a thimble- ful, 7iot ofteiier than twice a week. Goldfinches and siskins are fed upon Maw-seed, sometimes called poppy. These two lit- tle climbing birds have very soft bills, — that is, the young birds, — and it is with difficulty that they crack rape and canary seed, unless it has been previ- ously soaked, until the birds are at least two years old. All birds are great lovers of maw-seed ; and it must be fed sparingly ; for, being a powerful opiate, they will feed upon it until they drop from the perch from its intoxicating effect. The few birds that require this seed, besides the preceding, are the bulfinch, canary, and occasionally some other seed- eating bird ; for which see Treatment of Birds. The next seed used is called Paddy, — unhuUed or rough rice. This seed is fed to most of the seed-eating birds of the rice-fields of the Southern States, and also those that come from China, Java, or in fact from any part of the world that rice is grown. All of the family of grosbeaks are particularly fond of it, as is also the Java spar- row and rice bird. Our native bobolink is not BIRD-SEED. 71 averse to a bountiful supply ; but, with the feeding of this in any quantity, his vocal powers are ruined. For the family of finches. Millet-seed is used exclusively. It is the size and color of mustard-seed, very sweet ; and birds thrive remarkably well upon it, though many of them will also eat readily of rape and canary seed. This seed, being nutritious, can be fed to any seed-eating bird, and without detriment to theln. The only other food required is Cracked Corn and cracked wheat. This is fed principally to macaws, parrots, paroquets (of the larger species), cockadillos, cockatoos, lories, &c. The corn, being of a heating nature, should only be given in small quantities. By the present postal laws, seed can be sent safely through the mail ; and all orders intrusted to us will be filled with the very best quality, and the largest possible amount forwarded for the money sent. To those living remote from a bird-store, and de- siring one of "God's joyous warblers," it is with pleasure that we here state that they can be safely sent by express to any part of the United States or Canadas. All any party need do is to give an order to an express company, accompanying the same with a five-dollar bill, — this is very important to the express company, — and for this sum he will procure you a first-class singing canary. I am aware that many people are reluctant to trust a bird to the supposed rough handling of an expressman. The 72 TRANSPORTING BIRDS. expressman may handle a trunk roughly, and throw packages around in a careless manner, but noi the little innocent bird. Could you but see, as the author has so many, many times, on a cold, bleak winter's day, an ex- press-messenger, clad in an ordinary under-coat, drive to the store door, and take from his wagon a package of birds closely wrapped in his overcoat^ re- marking as he placed the package within the door, "I could not bear, Mr. Holden, to see the little things suffer such a terrible day as this." Or had you been with the author one stormy night last winter, when coming eastward from New York by steamer, upon which was a large shipment of. birds in charge of the Adams Express Company, you might have seen the messenger, on arriving at Fall River, carry the package with the utmost care into the cars, and place it near the stove in that part of the car usually occupied by himself. The comfort and safety of these helpless creatures was to him of the utmost importance. Having some curiosity, I asked him why he was so particular about the package, he replied, without knowing to whom he was speak- ing, " Ah, sir, I love those little birds ! they can- not take care of themselves, and God knows my first duty is to them." A call at the office of the com- pany revealed the fact, that the messenger was Mr. David Crowley, one of the three survivors of the fated "Lexington," which was burned in 1842. The house of Charles Reiche & Brother have shipped fi^dixly half a milliofi birds; and this immense number TAMING AND TRAINING. 73 without any loss worthy of mention. If our ex- perience is worth any thing, do not hesitate to order ; for the express company will always pur- chase at the point nearest your residence, and^ get them to you with as little exposure as possible. Almost all fanciers take a delight in having their birds so tame that they will not only take their food from the hand, but will readily fly to, and remain with, the person from whom they daily receive atten tion. When wild birds are first caught and placed in a cage, it is not well to begin at once upon their education. It requires some little time for them to become accustomed to their new mode of life : the change of food, together with a diminishing of their usual exercise, so changes the fluids that the bird is not in a healthy condition, and is therefore wholly unfit for mental training. There are some birds which seem thoroughly in- capable of learning the important fact, that their at- tendant is their friend. When it is discovered that such is the nature of the bird in hand, it is as well to give up all hopes of attaining favorable results. Patience will, however, accomplish much ; and it is best to give a long and careful trial before pronoun- cing final judgment. Young birds can be taught more easily than old ones. Yet with siskins, gold- finches, Java sparrows, and chaffinches almost any age will answer. One of the best ways to teach a bird to fly and return, or to go out of doors perched upon the finger or shoulder, is first to tease it with a soft feather in its cage, leaving the door open. The 74 TAMING AND TRAINING. bird at first will appear frightened, but, on finding that no harm is intended, will peck at the feather, which should be quickly withdrawn. The bird, soon thinking that it has mastered the feather, thereby gains confidence, and will peck at the finger : soon it will come out of its cage, and perch upon the hand. A few choice morsels should be laid down for it ; and in this way it will soon learn to eat from the hand itself. The bird should then be made ac- quainted with some call, \yhich should invariably be used whenever the training is going on ; after a short time the bird can be placed upon the shoulder, and carried from one room to another, care being taken to close the windovv^s and outside doors. In this way it will speedily become accustomed to being handled, and can be allowed to fly about the room, inviting it to return by the previously-arranged call or whistle. As soon as it attends to the call with- out appearing nervous or friglxtened, it can be taken into the open air, and gradually accustomed to being carried abroad without its offering to fly. Adult birds should not be carried into the open air in the spring or in pairing time ; for at this season of the year they show indications of resuming their native wildness. A siskin, goldfinch, or canary can easily be tamed by cutting away more or less of the inner web of the pinion-feathers, care being taken that the bird shall have sufficient power to fly from the hand without injury. The nostrils are then smeared with any essential oil, — bergamot is as good us any, — which will render it partially insensible for a TAMING AND TRAINING. 75 time. It should then be placed upon a finger, and changed from one to another. It may fly a few times, but should be brought back, and kept upon the hand until the effects of the oil have wholly passed away, when the bird, finding no harm is in- tended, will sit quietly. A few crushed hemp-seeds should be given for its good behavior, and the above repeated from day to day until a satisfactory result is obtained. Hunger will speedily teach a bird to take food from the hand. Place it in a small cage, — one that has a door large enough for the hand to pass through, — then remove all food. In a few hours try putting a seed-dish into the cage with your hand : if the bird flutters wfldly about, and refuses to accept your offering, remove your dish, and wait a few hours longer. You will not be compelled to remain long in suspense, for two or three trials will generally effect a good result. After food has been accepted from the dish, try your hand ; and as soon as yQU have convinced your pupil that only from you can food be procured, and to you, and you only, must he look for all his goodies, a friendship will be formed which he will not be first to break. Birds that are desired to be tame should be talked to and made of : th«y should be placed upon your writing-table, and every now and again a little notice taken of them. It is surprising how speedily these little fellows will learn the difference between neglect and attention. Some of the best birds which have been placed on exhibition have been those ow^ned by tailors and shoemakers, who, owing to the nature "^6 TAMING AND TRAINING. of their business, could keep their feathered pupils constantly with them. Thus far I have spoken only of taming these " little dewdrops.'' They are capable of still greater things, and can, with little or no coercion, be taught to perform many amusing tricks. The goldfinch and siskin may be taught to fire off small cannon, to imitate death, to draw up their food and water in a little bucket. The apparatus consists of two lines of broad, soft leather, in which there are four holes, through which their feet and wings are passed, and the ends are held together beneath the belly by a ring, to which is attached a delicate chain that sup- ports the buckets containing the food and drink. A bird thus equipped will draw up the chain by its beak, retaining the draw links by its feet, and thus succeeds in obtaining what he wishes. A cage can be made with a bay-window, in the floor of which have a hole : across this place a narrow bridge of wood, to which attach a small chain or piece of cord to hold the bucket, which should be about the size of a thimble. By drawing up the bucket filled with water, and letting the bird drink, then lowering it and pulling it part way up, he will soon acquire the habit of working at it. And, by gradually leaving a longer and longer length of chain between the bridge and the bucket, the bird will soon discover that he must pull the chain up into the cage, and hold it after it is there • and he readily comprehends the necessity of holding the chain with his foot. A?> §oon as this is done, his education is complete. TAMING AND TRAINING. "JJ Birds which are taught in this way never forget, and are always unhappy if out of their cage. Care should be taken to see that the working of the ap- paratus is not hard, and that it is always in order, otherwise a serious result might follow. A chain attached to a little wagon may be drawn into the cage and held in the same manner ; and the bird may be taught to ring a bell by suspending it in a corner of the cage, and leaving him without seed until he is hungry, pulling the string attached to it and ringing it, and putting some favorite food into the glass. He will soon discover, that, whenever the bell rings, he gets his food, and will seize the string and ring it whenever he is hungry. A few words of advice to those about purchas- ing a bird. All lovers of birds desire one with beautiful plumage, as well as one gifted with exqui- site powers of song. There are times when it is impossible to secure both advantages in one bird, and, when this should be the case, always select the bird for his beauty of song, never for plumage. In visiting a bird-store to make a purchase, — perhaps your first one, — if the dealer has a large stock, and there is an incessant singing, it is almost an im- jDOSsibility for any person to select just such a bird as he desires. One that the purchaser may think is an elegant singer may, after you have him alone, prove to be only a " twittering " bird, and his song composed of only six or eight notes. Again, you may select a bird for a sick friend who desires something quieting, — something that will sing 78 TAMING AND TRAINING. "wgrds of comfort for hours of sorrow:" you may possibly select just such a bird ; but nine times out of ten you are liable to select a loud, shrill singer, whose notes seemingly pierce the brain. How are you to obtain that which you so much desire ? You have a friend whose bird just suits you ; but that particular song you cannot by any possibility select in a bird-store. You have but one resource left ; and that is, your confidence in the dealer : tell him plainly what you wish ; and, if he has such a bird, you may depend upon his giving it to you ; for he knows, even better than the purchaser, just what is required ; and he will strive to please you, thereby not only gaining your esteem, T^ut also the patronage of your friends, whom you will as- suredly send to "your bird-store." One source of great annoyance to a dealer is, after having select- ed such a bird, for the purchaser to turn to some other patron {always a perfect stranger) and ask his or her opinion of the bird, and then take the advice of a person whom they never saw before, and proba- bly will never see again, and select a bird which the dealer knows is not what is desired, and in a few days — a weak at furthest — return to exchange it ; when, by taking the dealer's first selection, and holding no conversation with a stranger whose knowledge of a bird may have been as profound as the bird's knowledge of him or her, thereby causing a " little unpleasantness " between dealer and patron, which was as needless as it was unnecessary. Many persons have an idea that a bird with clear TAMING AND TRAINING. 79 yellow feathers is the best singer, while others main- tain that those with dark-green feathers are the best, and yet others think that a mottled bird is the best singer ; and many times it is hard to convince people otherwise. Upon inquiry, we find these ideas usually based upon the fact, that a friend of theirs once had a bird such and such a color, and it was a very fine singer, and they have been repeatedly told, that that colored bird was the best singer. To those who labor under this delusion we will simply state, that there are birds of every color that are in- ferior singers, and also those of every color that are very superior singers. The fact is, a bird's feath- ers have no more to do with his song than a lady's dress has to do with her voice. If a lady cannot sing with a plain dress, I doubt very much .whether a moire trimmed with real lace would give her that much-wished-for accomplishment. In selecting a cage for a bird, always look first to his comfort, never forgetting that he is our little caged prisoner, and our first duty is to make his prison-life happy. The canary and many other birds will live happily in a cage of any size or shape ; while there are many birds that must be confined in a flat-toj^ cage ; others again that must be kept in a cage the top of which must be of wood. The bird-dealer is always the best judge of the kind of cage best adapted to a bird's requirements ; and, if you follow his advice, you cannot go amiss. The improvements made in cages for the comfort of its occupant during the past three years have been very many ; and, in mak- 80 BIRD-CAGES. ing these improvements, style also has been consult- ed. We have the beautiful moresque, the Chinese pagoda, the Swiss cottage, the mansard, gothic, and in fact styles after every order of architecture, and many of them are very beautiful, and certainly pleasing to the eye. A bird's comfort, however, should be consulted a little, never forgetting that he is your caged prisoner ; and your first thought always must be to make his prison life happy. Very few who own a "Little dewdrop of celestial melody" give a moment's thought to the fact that many of the song-birds require vastly different cages. A canary will pour forth his chant in any cage in which you place him. True, he loves a large cage, and v/ill fly from one end to the other for joy. He will even take a bath several times a day if the oppor- tunity is given him, and plume his feathers times without number. All this he will do, as well as eat, and sing occasionally. Should you keep such a bird for a pet, such a cage would answer every pur- pose : if you keep the bird for his song, then he must be kept in a small cage. Owners of feathered songsters must have ob- served that many of them constantly flutter their wings, and look up as if about to fly upwards ; others again look up, and turn their heads backwards, until you think they will fall backward, which they sometimes do. Did it ever occur to the owner of such a bird that he was not in a suitable cage .? for GRAVEL-PAPER AND SPRING PERCH. 8 1 such is the fact. To those who have not studied this branch of natural histoiy, and buy for the first time a bird and cage, alwa3^s take the bird-dealer's advice as regards the cage. Your bird will then sing readily, remain quiet, and not fly as if afraid of his life, and ruin his plumage the first day that you possess him. Amongst the many recent patented improvements for a bird's comfort, none are more worthy of men- tion than the Singer gravel-paper, and Aldom's Patent spring perch. The gravel-paper is cut of suitable sizes to fit cages of almost every shape. The paper is a very superior quality of heavy ma- nila, and the gravel, or bird sand, is of the choicest. It is so placed as to loosely adhere to the paper by a very small quantity of paste, made from the best of flour, which allows the bird to pick it off very readily ; and this gravel is just as essential to a bird as his seed or bath. It also keeps the bottom of a cage in excellent condition; and last, though not least, it keeps the bird's feet perfectly clean, thereby keeping him, as the inventor claims, " in health and song." The Aldom spring perch is an ingenious device at imitating the swaying of the limb of a tree : it gives to the bird a very graceful appearance ; and is unlike the old-fashioned swing, which has broken so many limbs of birds. With this perch such an occurrence is an impossibility. An illustration can be seen at the end of this work. 6 82 CLEANING BRASS CAGES. * A few words more, and we say — well, never mind what we say until you read the last line. The few words are on the subject of carefully wrapping the paper around the cage in which he is taken from the store. There are very many people who think that a bird will "smother" if covered up closely. Such, how- ever, is not the case. A dealer knows better than any one else possibly can. And, if the purchaser would only remain quiet until the package was ready to deliver, he or she would always discover that the last thing done was to make a few small holes in the top to let out the hot air, but by no means let in cold ; if so, a bird would assuredly mUA cold. And lastly I will say to all who now own birds, or ever expect to, that all they require is suitable seed, as you have been informed in the body of this work, clean water for drinking and bathing daily, gravel- paper or sand on the bottom of the cage, a little green stuff or sweet apple, once in three or four weeks, — not oftener, — and iwthifig else. To CLEAN A BRASS, SILVER, OR GOLD PLATED CAGE, always wash with a sponge or piece of old towel, using clear cold water, and wipe dry. The surface of these cages being varnished, if hot water is used, they will have the appearance of being spattered with milk, which can never be removed. If they are scoured the same as brass ware ordinarily is, the varnish will be removed, and the cage commence to corrode, and require polishing daily. APPENDIX. THE CANARY. The question is asked daily, Why does my bird lose the feathers around his bill, and his head become bare ? There are two reasons for this : first, Many birds seem afflicted with an eruption, or skin-disease, which causes the feathers to drop out. Such birds should be fed principally upon rape-seed, and occa- sionally a small piece of raw carrot, of which most birds are very fond ; and, if a little olive-oil is at times put on the bare spot, the feathers will commence to grow more readily. Secondly, Many birds are of a nervous and irritable disposition, never remaining in one position for a single instant, but are contin- ually hopping to and fro against the wires of their cages, as if trying to get out, which is really the case ; and, by coming constantly in contact with the hard substance, they ruin their plumage. To those who own one of tliese birds, it would be well to hang it quite low, or, better still, place it on a table near by, where its owner can oc- casionally talk to, and take notice of it, and thereby 83 84 BIRDS BRISTLE UP. — SORE FEET. cause it to become accustomed to its home ; and, when partially quieted, bathe the bare parts with water into which has been placed a few drops of the tincture of arnica : after the soreness (if any there has been) disappears, use a little olive-oil, as before mentioned. Oftentimes A Bird bristles up, sits moping upon the perch, with his head under his wing, and looks like a puff- ball. If this is occasioned by the bird having diar- rhoea, give the remedies as directed on page 22. Should it be occasioned by costiveness, see, also, article on page 22. Occasionally a bird will act in this manner when he has neither of these complaints. Should this be the case, examine, first, his food, and see if he has been fed in a proper manner. Many times it will be found that it is wholly occasioned by neglect in not feeding the bird, and sometimes by not supplying sufficient water for the bird to drink. If, however, it should prove that the bird has plenty of food, and is perfectly regular, then make a change in his food, taking away the seed, and feeding the soft food, as described on page 26 ; and perhaps a small piece of Sweet apple may be found beneficial. Birds will at times be afflicted with Sore Feet. — This malady is usually occasioned by using a very small perch, and also by not using suffi- cient gravel for the bird to keep his feet clean. The perches for a canary, or other bird of similar size, should never be less than seven-sixteenths of an inch in diam- eter, and even larger ; and for a mocking-bird, and all WILL NOT BATHE. 85 birds of his size, perches of three-quarters to seven- eighths of an inch in diameter are far preferable. With such perches, and plenty of gravel, a bird will seldom have sore feet. Should he, however, be so troubled, the best remedy is a bath of warm water, to which a little tincture of arnica has been added. Occasion- ally we are told that a bird Will not Bathe, and asked how we can make it. In reply, I can only say that I have never yet, in an ex- perience of nearly twenty-five years, seen a bird that will not bathe. True, some will not enter a bath-dish, as we would wish them to, and will persist in putting their heads into their drinking-cups or fountains in- stead, and, after wetting their head, push it through their feathers, and then, with their bill, thoroughly clean themselves ; which is very like the person who uses the " wet end of a towel," instead of taking a proper ablution : for this there is no help ; and we can only hope, that, with age, they Will discover the beauties of a toilet which can only be arranged after a first-class bath. Those who raise birds are often annoyed by the male, and sometimes by the female bird Eating the Eggs as soon as they are laid ; and, of course, all bird-raisers are anxious to know how to pre- vent it. It usually occurs from improper feeding. Birds that are mated require rich food ; and this rich food should be given for three to four weeks previous to mating them. When this is done, it is very rare that the eggs are disturbed. The richest and best food that can be' made, and the manner of making, is fully described on page 26. S6 ANNOYING SETTING BIRDS. Another source of great annoyance to bird-breeders is the fact, that, occasionally, the old birds desert the young, and leave them to starve. This I never knew to occur where birds were placed in a suitable place, as described on page 27, and always fed and cared for by the same person. It is the constant annoyance to which a bird is subjected that occasions this. To those who have had this ill-luck, it is usually the fault of themselves. They take great pride in tha birds they are prospectively going to raise ; and, as soon as they are from the egg, the cage is taken down on all occasions, and shown to every visitor ; and, when it is too much trouble to take it down, the step-ladder, a chair, or table is brought into action in order to show up the bird-family ; and then the bird-dealers are asked the question, " Why did my old bird desert the young before they were a week old ? " Those who have had this ill-luck doubtless see wherein success in the future awaits them. Occasionally there is no apparent cause for the old birds deserting the young. When such proves to be the case, and the old birds are very good ones, it is always well to bring the young up by hand, using the food described above, and using a quill with a small, piece cut from one side, similar to the old-fashioned quill-pen. It can then be used as a spoon ; and, with three or four such spoonfuls, feed them every hour, and not feed oftener than once an hour, using judgment in not over-feeding the birds. It is always a good rule to take the nest from the cage, and keep the young birds in it, covering them over slightly, until they are BATHING WHILE MATED. 8/ well feathered. They should then be fed as is de- scribed for young birds on page 26. The question is repeatedly asked, " Do Birds Bathe whilst Mated ? " We can only say, that some do, and some do not. It is always well to give a bird its bath, and leave it to the bird's judgment whether to bathe or not. It has always been the wish of all bird-fanciers to introduce, if possible, into this country, the king of songsters of the Old World, — the English Nightingale. — Improper feeding, and other causes, have seemed, so far, to render it almost an impossibility to keep one of these birds more than a few months ; and, for the benefit of the lovers of this bird, we will give an extract from a letter from Mr. George B.' Pearson of Beverle}', Mass. He says, — " I have always kept this bird in one place ; fed him on Reiche's Prepared (bottle) Mocking-bird Food and ants' eggs, mixed half and half This he has had for six days of the week ; and, on the seventh day, I have grated on a horseradish-grater common yellow tuurnip, and mixed this with an equal quantity of ants' eggs ; and, during the season of moulting, I have fed him six to eight meal-worms per day. With this treatment, he fully moulted in five weeks, and commenced singing at once. I have always been very particular to keep his cage, perches, and feeding- dish very clean ; have used gravel (sand) in the cage freely, and given him his bath daily ; and I see no reason why, if the same rule is followed, that any SS SKY-LARK AND ENGLISH SPARROW. bird cannot be kept in health and song for many years." The article on the Sky and Wood Lark, on page 39, does not make mention of the bird's habits as regards cleanliness. It is very rare that one of the birds will take a bath, . -much preferring — like domestic fowls — to dust themselves ; and for this reason sand or gravel must be used very freely, and always kept in the cage to the depth of not less than half an inch. The lark requires what is known as the lark-cage, and will not do well in any other. It is a low-priced cage, and can always be purchased at any bird-store. A very general desire for all obtainable information in regard to the English Sparrow has brought to light the sta- tistics of a celebrated English author, Mr. Bradley, who, in his " General Treatise on Husbandry and Gardening," shows that a pair of sparrows, during the time they have their young to feed, destroy on an average, every week, 3,360 caterpillars. This calculation he founded upon actual observation. He discovered that the two parents carried to the nest .forty caterpillars in an hour. He supposed the spar- rows to enter the nest only during twelve hours each day, which would cause a daily consumption of 480 caterpillars. This sum gives 3,360 caterpillars ex- tirpated weekly from a single garden. When you add to this the tens of thousands of the army and canker worms, the fruit-moth, slug, Hessian fly, and legions of other insects that sting our fruit, all of which the sparrow devours, then, and not until then, wili you know his value. SOFT FOOD FOR BIRDS. 89 Food for a canar}^, when ailing, or when mated, or suitable to feed to young birds when they are brought up by hand, will be found on page 26. There is no better food for the mocking-bird than Reiche's, as noticed on page 43. Occasionally a food made as follows is beneficial : — One hard-boiled egg grated on a coarse grater ; of raw carrot, grated the same way, about the same quantity as of the egg; and of cracker rolled fine, as described on page 26, sufficient to take up the moisture, — about one cracker and a half This makes a good food ; and it is of advantage to feed it part of the time in summer, and during moulting, as it acts as a mild cathartic on the bird, and it can also be fed to all soft-bill birds. Occasionally a bird's limbs will be covered with scales, particularly an old bird's. The best way to remove this is to moisten the limb with quite warm milk ; and a slight rubbing with the thumb and fore-finger back and forth will cause it to peel off. Care should tbe taken, however, not to break the under-skin. Swollen and Sore Limbs are greatly relieved, and oftentimes a permanent cure effected, by bathing the affected parts with diluted tincture of arnica. Trapping Birds. — Bird-dealers are constantly receiving orders and calls for " bird-lime." This arti- cle is made from the inside bark- of the holly, — a. tree almost unknown in this country, though very plentiful in England. A substitute for this can be made by boihng linseed -oil away to about one-third the 90 TRAPPING BIRDS. — SAFFRON. quantity you start with. It is a very dangerous operation, and should never be done in a house, its explosive qualities being fully equal to gunpowder. It will make a very strong bird-lime, and hold any small bird that lights upon a twig that has been smeared with it. Unless, however, the trapper is near at hand to remove the bird at once, he becomes besmeared all over his body and wings ; and it is almost impossible to remove it until the bird moults, thereby, for the time being, ruining the sale of it. A far better way is with a trap-cage, and a bird for a caller ; and, if you can obtain a blind bird, he will sit quietly, and call all day long, and many, very many more birds can be taken than if the bird had his sight. Saffron as a Medicine for birds seems to be almost in universal use, though why it is used is more than the author has ever been able to ascertain from those using it, more than that " My folks used to use it ; " and they presume that the bird required it. The medicinal property of saffron is diaphoretic, and used mostly to color and flavor other medicines. When chewed, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, though a pleasant, aromatic flavor. It is not impos- sible that its bitter taste to the bird may give an increased appetite, which, perhaps, the bird needed, and in that way health is restored. The author, however, has discovered no medicinal property in it, excepting that of a cathartic ; and, as such, it is very good. But quiet to the bird is the best remedy ; and it is best obtained by covering the bird up quite closely on the first appearance of ailment. ADVERTISEMENT. MESSRS. CHARLES REICHE & BROTHER' Are receiving from Europe two importations weekly of all the Rare and Choice Birds of Song named in the body of this work, and many others, highly prized both for their excel- lence of song and beauty of plumage. They also keep constantly on hand a full and large assort- ment of American birds. They are also the only dealers in Animals in this country, and regularly supply all the great showmen, and also take orders for private game-parks or zoological gardens. Messrs. Reiche & Brother were the originators of the celebrated Prepared Food for Mocking and all other soft- billed birds. They are also wholesale and retail dealers in seeds of all kinds, and keep constantly on hand cages of every description, and every other article connected with a first-class bird-store. The public are respectfully invited to examine our stock. Charles Reiche, Alfeld, Germany. Henry Reiche, 55 Chatham Street, New York, Charles F. Holden, 9 Bowdoin Square, Boston. 91 PATENTED April 14, 1863; Feb. 28, 1865; Sept. 27, 1870; May 9, 1871 ; Sept. 5, 1871 ; Sept. 5, 1871 ; March 26, 1872; July 30, 1872. h m 1 '^tiigfiiiw^' Three doors West of Broadway, NEW YORK. SOLE MANUFACTURERS OF THE CELEBRATED u OSBORN" CAGES, FOR BIRDS AND ANIMALS. PLATED AND BRIGHT METAL CAGES. ALVAN DRAYTON, General Agent. LIBERAL DISCOUNT TO THE TRADE. SINGER'S PATENT GRAVEL PAPER, FOR THE BOTTOM OF BIRD-CAGES, T^REVENTS filth, disease, sore feet, and vermin. Forms •*- an artificial ground for the bird to scratch and pick in. Saves time and trouble, and keeps the bird in health and SOnGT. Put up in the following sizes : — Round, 8j inches diameter. Round, 9| inches diameter. 10 " Square, lO inches by lo inches. 600 packages of any special size made to order. PRICE LIST. We will hereafter designate 12 packages, of 12 papers each, a dozen ; price to the trade $1.80 : 144 packages, a gross ; price $2t,6o; &c. Parties, in ordering, will be careful to state the exact quantity of each size they require. CAUTION. — Be careful not to purchase infringements,' AS WE SHALL PROTECT OUR PATENT. SINGER GRAVEL PAPER CO., 583 HUDSON STREET, NEW YORK. G. GUNTHER, ' No. 108 WILLIAM STREET, NEW-YORK CITY, MANUFACTURER OF THE Improved Japanned Bird-Cages, WITH RECENTLY-PATENTED FASTENING, which prevents that great annoyance, THE BOTTOM DROPPING OFF. Also Exclusive Manufacturer of Brass Cages with Spring-Door AND SPRINa-CATCHES FOR THE CUPS, The arrangement of which renders it impossible to ever lose a bird, as ALL THE OPENINGS ARE SELF-CLOSING. FIRST PREMIUM AWARDED AT THE VIENNA EXPOSITION. ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUES SENT ON APPLICATION. ESTABLISHED IN 1848. 0. LINDEMANN & CO., MANUFACTURERS OP yapanned and Patent Bright Metal BIRD-CAGES. Patented Oct, 4, 1870 ; Nov. 7, 1871 ; March 12, 1872. Re-issued Oct. 29, 1872. OFFICE AND SALESROOM : Ho. 254 Pearl Street, New York. Factory, Nos. 252, 254, & 256 Pearl Street. HILDRETH & RICE, MANUFACTURERS OF IVooden Bird-Cages, No. 16 MIDDLE STREET,' LOWELL, MASS. CAGES ADAPTED TO ALL KINDS OF BIRDS. MOCKING-BIRD AND BREEDING GAGES A SPECIALTY. H. A. HILDRETH. F. E. RICE.