TIoiv I hrcame a Lover of Birds. 25 



my patents, but can safely say I never robbed birds of a 

 vvholo clutch— just one egg only, when I found a nest with 

 five - and so learned to distinguish the species by the colour 

 of thfir eggs. 



One night in the spring there had been a storm, and 

 next morning T found a ChafTinch's ne.^t blown to the ground, 

 it was empty, but some c'lii'ping in the grass near by drew 

 my attention, and T soon collected together four or five young- 

 sters nearly fledgei, put them with the nest into a small cage 

 and hung same up against a wall. Soon after I had the 

 satisfaction of seeing the old birds fly on top of the cage 

 and feed the young. But what was my surprise when I 

 found the ground strewn with wings of moths and beetles? 

 Not until then was I aware that hardbills used insect-food 

 in rearing their brood— first object lesson! 



The young finches grew apace, but one day, to my 

 dismay I found the cage door open and the birds gone. An 

 "unkind" hand had opened the door; but I was told the 

 birds themselves had done it, as it was cruel to keep them 

 caged. / 



Notbinjjf daunted, from the park my ramblings extended to 

 the forest, and I had then made the acquaintance of an old 

 bird-dealer and true lover of birds, who initiated me into the 

 mysteries of handrearing; I seldom returned from my wander- 

 ings without having made some fresh discovery and carrying 

 home some trophy or other might it be young Thrushes, 

 Blackbirds, Goldfinches, Nightingales, all of which I learned 

 to hand-rear successfully, and I often feel inclined to again 

 take up this interesting phase of bird -keeping — but time and 

 circumstances do not permit— I must be satisfied to tend 

 adult specimens: and what higher award can there l>e to 

 man's ambition when the efforts, care and attention bestowed 

 upon his feathered pets are crowned by the well-being and 

 song of such a bird as the Nightingale, the " King of 

 Songsters." 



I have kept most of our best songsters (sof thills) 

 in cages, and if the experience .gained during nearly forty 

 years might interest your readers, I will with pleasure pen 

 a few notes on the keeping of softbills in cages. 



We shall be pleased to have some notes on keeping 

 softbills in cages. — Ed, 



