412 Translation of Bechstein' s Cage Birds. 



of the most fascinating, and, perhaps, least perfectly described, 

 branch of natural history, I shall be overpaid." (Preface.) 



This most welcome work is supplied with a " Tabular Index 

 to the orders, tribes, &c. ;" and with a " General Index," ar- 

 ranged alphabetically ; two additions of the greatest of value 

 to novitiates. 



Cage Birds, their Natural History, Management, Habits, 

 Food, Diseases, Treatment, Breeding, and the Method of 

 catching them; by J. M. Bechstein, M.D., Author of 

 u Ornithologisches Tassenbuch," &c. Translated from 

 the German, with notes by the Translator. 1835. 105. 6d. 



Next to plants, birds are the most universally popular and 

 courted objects in the whole range of natural history. The 

 inhabitants of crowded alleys and dusty apartments, although 

 debarred from enjoying woodland rambles, contrive to domes- 

 ticate one of the great charms of the woodland, the feathered 

 minstrels. Nor is this at all wonderful ; for the joyous songs 

 of birds, independently of their own sweetness, bring vividly 

 to mind the buttercup and daisy-spangled meadows, purling 

 streamlets, and embowered valleys clad with nature's brightest 

 vesture, and redolent of beauty, verdure, and perfume. 



Caged birds being productive of all these advantages, it 

 becomes highly desirable to ascertain by what means our little 

 prisoners can be best compensated for the loss of the sweets 

 of liberty, and their sojourn in their wire prisons rendered as 

 little irksome to themselves as possible, and like advantageous 

 to their keepers. Such has been the object of the author of 

 the work before us, and success, as might have been expected 

 from so enthusiastic and experienced an ornithologist, has 

 crowned his endeavours. We will, however, let him speak 

 for himself: — " If long experience and minute observation 

 on the subject of his work is calculated to gain an author 

 credit, I flatter myself that this will not be denied me, since 

 from my earliest youth I have delighted in being surrounded 

 with birds, and am so accustomed to them, that I cannot write 

 at my desk with pleasure, or even with attention, unless ani- 

 mated by the warbling of the pleasing little creatures which 

 enliven my room. My passion is carried so far, that I always 

 have about thirty birds around me ; and this has naturally led 

 me to consider the best and easiest mode of procuring them, 

 as well as of feeding and preserving them in health. Few 

 amateurs, therefore, are better fitted than myself to write on 

 this subject, and I hope I have done it to the satisfaction of 

 the public. I have described all the indigenous European 

 birds with which I am acquainted that are capable of being 

 tamed, and are pleasing in the house. As to foreign ones, 



