58 BIRD-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 



its head, and wearing a sword and cartridge 

 pouch, and holding a fire-lock in one claw. After 

 some time sitting upright, this bird, at the word 

 of command, freed itself from its dress and flew 

 away to the cage. A fourth suffered itself to be 

 shot at, and falling down as if dead, to be put 

 into a little wheelbarrow and wheeled by one of 

 his comrades. Several of the birds were placed 

 upon a little fire-work, and continued there quietly 

 and without alarm, until it was discharged. 



FOOD. It is highly important to know the most 

 proper food for this bird, as it is so completely do- 

 mesticated, that it will eat almost everything that 

 is given to it. Some pamper their bird and destroy 

 the tone of its stomach by feeding it with sugar, 

 sweet cake, &c., and others withhold from them 

 their natural food. I once knew a confectioner 

 who killed a fine pair of birds by feeding them 

 upon cake. He had all kinds of cake that were 

 ever baked, stuck in pieces all round the cage. I 

 told him he would kill his birds. He answered, 

 " O no, I love to see them eating it." They had 

 a short life and a merry one ; they were both 

 dead in about a month. I also was once shown 

 a pair of Canary Birds that were hanging out at 

 a window ; they were owned by an old maiden 



