171 



alterations they answer the purpose adinirabl}'. I take 

 all the perches out, with the exception of three or four, 

 make a door at each end, and fasten some loose fabric, 

 like muslin, to the inside of the wire front, to prevent 

 the birds from putting their beaks through the wires 

 and rubbing the feathers off. These cages are in size 

 about 2ft. 6in. by ift. 6in. by Sin. high, and are large 

 enough for four birds, which, when well on food are 

 placed singly in the ordinary cages, the muslin cover 

 being taken off by degrees, a little at a time. 



I used to think, at one time, that it would be a 

 good plan to place with each batch of fresh caught birds, 

 an older caged bird well on its food, with the idea that 

 it w^ould teach the new comers to feed; but I soon found 

 that plan would not work at all, as the older bird, grown 

 bold in confinement, simply gorged all the tit-bits 

 liimself, and frequentl}- prevented the others from 

 feeding at all ; with the result that, if I had not quickly 

 removed him, the later arrivals would have died of 

 starvation. 



HANDREARING from the nest may be accom- 

 plished successfully with any of our British songsters, 

 without any previous experience being necessar}'. All 

 that is required is a little tact, cleanliness, and regularity 

 in feeding, as is proved by the fact that a friend of mine, 

 who had never even kept an insectivorous bird in his 

 life, took for his first attempt three Swallows from the 

 nest (leaving two for the old birds) and safely reared the 

 lot. He worked under difficulties, as he was by trade a 

 joiner, and took the birds with him daily to work, and 

 kept them above his bench in an old box, feeding them 

 every time he had a moment to spare. When his daily 

 labour was done, he brought them home again, and let 

 them have a fly round the kitchen, where they would 

 perch on the clothes line and fly on to his hands to be 

 fed, I dare say wondering what a great, big, but kind, 

 foster-father they had. Yes ! they were very engaging 

 pets, those Swallows, with their pretty, graceful, and 

 confiding habits, as all handreared birds are. But I 



