378 



CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS 



covcrls ari' \c_tv jkUc gri'visli-wliitc, dilicatflN' 

 linled with lawiiy-bufT, whicli loloiii' iiUTcascs 

 ill (li|)th towards the Ijrt'ast and sidos. The 

 li-inalc has 1 lu' hoad. lU'fk. and liarlv Inown. 

 tiniicd Willi .urt'V ; the wings arc dark hrown, 

 eath fcatlicr being deeply fringed with light 

 l)rown ; the band on the cheek is lirown, and 

 the stripe over the eye tawny ; the whole of 

 the under pari is pale rufous brown, paler 

 towards the chin and abdomen ; the tail is dark 

 brown, tipped with light brown ; all exce])l the 

 two centre feathers are white towards the roots ; 

 ruui]) white. .Mter the auluiun moult I he 

 males greatly resemble the females in plumage ; 

 they resume their full colour again in llie spring. 

 These birds vary very considerably in colour, 

 according to their age and the season of year. 

 In tlie old birds the grey on the back becomes 

 more decided, the lireast whiter, and the brown 

 tints deeper in colour. Hand-reared speci- 

 mens improve in colour each year as they get 

 older. 



The Wheatear is a very ditticult bird to 

 thoroughly tame if captured when mature ; 

 but kind attention and offering tit-liits from Ihc 

 linger will in most cases overcome ils fear and 

 eslablish contidence ; and some of the mosl 

 j>eirect specimens seen on the show-bench ha\c 

 been wild-caught S])ecimeus. 'I'licy laii. how- 

 evei', be hand-reared from the nesi wilhoul 

 dillieulty, and shouhl be taken when aboid nine 

 or ten days old. We have reared Ihem on 

 hard-boiled white of egg alone, cut U|> into 

 fine pieces the size of a gentle (maggot), feeding 

 ever\ half-hour by dropping the shredded egg 

 into Iheir open mouths, gi\ing one drop of milk 

 from the lip of the linger after e\ciy second or 

 third moulhful. The nest must be kepi ])er- 

 feclly clean from di'op])ings, as ex])lained in the 

 section thai deall willi Thrushes. Tlic\- can 

 also be successtidly reared on a mixlui'e of 

 (■(pial parls of hard-boileil egg (miiucd line by 

 l)assing through a tine sieve), powdered sweet 

 biscuit, and good anls' cocoons previously 

 soaked in hot water and mopped dry with a 

 cloth. These ingredients must be nnxed lo- 

 gethei' two 01' Ihi'ec linu's a day. and llicn 

 moisleiied to a pulp wilh new milk and gi\en lo 

 I he young bir<ls troni a uairow. blunl -pointed 

 l)iece of wood. The birds should be led e\ci-\' 

 half-hour li'om dawn unlil dusk, and when 

 tlie\' cease lo ga|)c> llicy liaxc hail rnnui;li bir 

 that meal. It is IjcsI lo plun^ic' llie vt^n. when 

 suiricienlly hard-boiled, lido cold walei', leav- 

 ing it I here unlil cold wilhoul breaking the shell. 

 Hy Irealing Ihe egg llius il remains a bellei- 

 colour, and also retains moi'e nu)isture than 

 when cooled in a gradual way. Wasp grubs. 

 spiders, small sniooth caterpillars, gentles cleaned 

 in sand, and oilier grubs should be given in 



moderation liclwccn whiles or as one of Ihe 

 meals. .\s the young l)ir(ls get older a liltle 

 boiled carrot may be pul|ied up with Ihe egg, 

 biscuit, and anls' cocoons, \\hen able lo do 

 lor themsehcs the younnslers should bc' gradu- 

 ally weaned on lo a did of (Uie half powdered 

 plain sweet bisiaiil, the other half of ecpial 

 parts of hard-boiled egg, ants' cocoons, and line 

 granulated meal in 'al. the whole made crumbly 

 moist wilh water. N'ariations can be made by 

 rubbing a liltle well-boiled cold bullock's hearl 

 or liver through a tine grater into a meal and 

 adding to the mixture ; and on another day a 

 little silkworm pujiic or a few dried flies, inslead 

 of one of the oilier ingredients. A little finely 

 grated raw caridl. swcdi' I urnip, or finely minced 

 hearl of a lender lettuce can also be added ; 

 bill when these moist ingredients are given less 

 water will be necessary, and it is heller lo add 

 lliese lirst. .\ little finely minced cream 

 cheese or curd added to the food is anollier 

 variatiim. .\ su|)]ily of live insects of one kind 

 or anollier should be gi\en daily, siich as gentles 

 wliich ha\e been well cleaned in sand, beetles, 

 small snails, and oilier lAi'iibs. Crickels. loo, 

 are a choice dainty ; these and lieelles are 

 easily obtained from Ihe neighbouring baker, 

 who will be delighted to know Ihal Ids great esl 

 nuisances are of some use al iasl. .\ meal worm 

 will not come amiss if olher lixc food is scarce. 

 In the summer wasp grubs. Hies, and live anls' 

 cocoons are procurable, all ol which afford a 

 wide and ^ aried did. ensm-iiiu this liird's good 

 health and condilioii. The W'healear in ils 

 wild slate li\'es chidl\- on insecls. small worms, 

 and small snails: Mu-rdore if adiills or young 

 birds atler llic\' can do tor llieiuselves are 

 capUired, feed llius, and keep Ihem al firsl in 

 a li.uhl but cpiiet room by themselves, with Ihe 

 cagi' so placed Ihal lliey caimol see anyone, 

 bill wilh ample lii^hl llirowu iipmi Iheir food. 

 (;are iiiusi be lakeii lo see llial llu\ partake of 

 Ihe food, as some al llisl sulk and refuse arti- 

 lidal food. In thai case they must be fed a 

 few limes e;ieh ila\. I'o do Ibis, catch the bird, 

 open ils liill. and slip in two or lliree well-cleaned 

 gentles, one afler the olher. As you observe 

 it swallow one down, give anollier. A few 

 such feeds are usually sufficient lo cause an 

 apjielile for more, and llie bird begins lo par- 

 lake of Ihe food olfered il in ils cage. 



.Some fanciers ha\c a peculiar recipe for 

 iiutueiiig freshly cauj^hl birds lo lake food, 

 which is called " Mealing olf." 

 II is managed in the following 

 ingenious manner. Some iiisecli- 

 \orous food mixture is moistened in the usual 

 way, and for trie lirst day or two a few meal 

 wor'ms. or beelles cut up. are placed amongst 

 it. Tills uiiNlure is placed in a shallow food 



" Meating 

 Off." 



