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prefer that all the smaller species should be wild-caught, 

 as the}' soon adapt themselves to cage life, quickly 

 become " finger-tame," retain their natural wild song, 

 are larger and finer coloured, and seem to possess more 

 stamina when reared naturally by their parents. 



With Thrushes, Starlings, Crows, Wrynecks, and 

 Woodpeckers, the case is different, and I would advise 

 all who admire such birds to have only handreared 

 specimens, as otherwise, unless caught as " branchers," 

 they never become tame, and it is quite impossible to keep 

 them in good feather. A thoroughly wild bird can 

 never be a pleasure to anyone, when it constantly tries 

 to dash out its brains on the approach of its keeper : 

 therefore handrearing must be resorted to. It is best to 

 take them from the nest when the}- are what is called 

 " pen- feathered," as they are then easier to rear than 

 when taken at a later date. P'or the first few days they are 

 best kept in a basket with a lid on, on a nest of hay cut 

 in short lengths. The}' should be fed on a mixture of 

 fresh hard-boiled eggs, ants' eggs, and bread meal, made 

 rather moist but not pappy, and if at first they do not 

 gape of their own accord, a little must be carefully 

 crammed down their throats: afterwards a pair of 

 surgical forceps will be found a useful implement with 

 which to convey the food to them, as being less liable to 

 injure their soft and delicate beaks than the fingers. 

 Mealworms cut in halves — or any of the other insects 

 mentioned may also be given, and, in the case of the 

 larger Crows, raw lean beef finely shredded. Great care 

 must be taken to remove all droppings instantly, as it is 

 most essential to their wellbeing that they be kept, as in 

 nature — scrupulously clean. As soon as they are able to 

 perch, they should be removed to a cage, the larger the 

 better, that they may exercise themselves and grow 

 strong on the wing. Kept in such a cage or aviary, I 

 know of no prettier sight than a nest of young Thrushes 

 — " buds of melody " — clamouring to be fed the moment 

 they see their fond master approaching. 



Magpies, Jackdaws, Jays, and Starlings, reared in 



