Oil /he Kccpinjj ()/ Sojt-li'dl.s in Cages. 115 



luidri' what siiiiouiidiiig.s they grew up, and although they 

 scttk- (luw 11 to ca.uc life, and are tame in a way, yet they 

 never lose thi'ir shyness and Ijeiomc really confidential. On 

 approaching tlu'ir cage, they will not lly mildly about, but 

 try tu hide in a corner, and no coaxing in the; world will 

 i'l'tch them out oi it ; lease the room, and they are inunediately 

 on the pt'rch. Others are as "hold as brass," as the saying 

 has it, ami woe betide you if you spoiled them by giving 

 them a tit-bit in the shape of a worm too often, you never 

 hear the eiul of it. As regards the shy birds, I have a 

 case in point at the present moment. 



Three years ago I acquired a Nightingale, first year 

 very shy, no song; second year, little more confidential, would 

 snap a worm from finger and sang Tor one month — this year I 

 thought I would alter the position of his cage, so put same in 

 a darker corner of the room, and decorated the front of cage 

 with artificial evergreens, result: incessant song, almost too 

 loud for room, from early morning, and even at night by 

 light, since October 30th. The best bird I ever had as 

 regards song, and all brought about through a little. fore- 

 thought and no doubt by accidentally bringing the position of 

 the cage and surroundings into a line with the natural con- 

 ditions under which the bird lived when at large. 



As with human beings, so with birds. There are 

 hardly two natures alike in their habits, these you must 

 study, and experience gained with patience must be your 

 teacher. 



Success depends upon good management, and as there 

 is a great deal to be said under this heading, I will devote 

 another article to General Management, before giving my 

 experiences, and a treatise on the various kinds of Soft- 

 bills I iiave kept in cages. 



(To he confinued). 



! Some Interesting Birds. 



By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S., Etc. 



Illustrated from Life by H. AVili.ford. 

 {Continued from page 36). 

 The Laxceolated Jay {Garrulus lanceolatus) \ The 



