400 



CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS 



common wilh llu- I'lycalilu'r. It is a liaiid- 

 sonu' bird ; llie licad. Iiack of neck and rum|) 

 art' aslu'll-grey, and llif otlirr ]iarls aljovc 

 vinous-cliestnut ; llu- upper tail ccAfrls are 

 reddisli-jjrown ; tlu' lour centre fcallu-rs of the 

 tail are black, those at tlie sides wliite. tliat 

 colour forming a bar across the base, wheic tlie 

 sliafis are blackish ; the web of tlie outer 

 fcallur at each side is white and the black 

 assumes the form of an irregular sjtol at the 

 tip ; the wings are dusky-brown, with coverts 

 of vinous-chestnut. A black line conmiences 

 at the base of the forehead and surrounds the 

 eyes and auriculars with a faint wliite streak 

 running along the top of the black. Tlie cheeks 

 and under parts are vinous-pink, shading to 

 whitish on the throat and abdomen. There is 

 a great dilTerence between the colour of the 

 male and female, the latter being reddish-lirown 

 aliove. while the head is duller grey, and has no 

 black band, but a ]iale buff eyebrow stripe in- 

 stead ; the nnder])ar(s are huffish, barred with 

 brown ; the tail feathers are brown with a tint 

 of whitish-red on the outer ones and small 

 while tip]iings. 



This Shrike is about 7 inches in length, and 

 is possessed of some song, which is i)leasant and 

 unintermittent, though occasionally mixed with 

 some harsh notes. If taken young, it may be 

 easily hand-reared like the Nightingale. It 

 should never be placed with other birds, owing 

 to its fierceness. It can be fed as adviscfl for 

 the pi'eceding species, and similar cages answer 

 well, though they need not bi' i|inle so 

 long. 



Of the family Ampcli(hi\ the Waxwing. Am- 

 pclia giirrutus (Linn.), is a winter visitor to these 

 islands, sometimes api)earing 

 singly, and at others in Hocks. 

 'I'lie name is derixcd from the 

 wax-like ai)i)earauce of the white ends nl the 

 secondary wing-fealhers, and a small tip or 

 apjiendage to the shafls of some of those feathers, 

 which has been likened lo red coral or sealing- 

 wax. 11 is a very handsome bird, aliout llic size 

 of a Hedwing : the feathers on the crown are 

 elongated and form a lieautiful cresi, wliicli can 

 be raised or lowered at pleasure. It is drab- 

 brown in colour, shading into dull cheslnni ; 

 round the eyes a narrow black sliipe sirclclies 

 above Ihe nostrils, and is conlimicd brliiud (lie 

 eyes, separating Ihe crest tr(]iii llie nape; Ihe 

 throat and forepart of llie neck are black. The 

 general body colour is drab lirown. shading to 

 various lints; on Ihe face ami car' coverts lo 

 rufous and chestnut ; on the rump and imder- 

 parts to grey. The wings are black, barred with 

 white and yellow, wilh coverls like Ihe back ; 

 the tail is lilack liiigcd with grey and lipped 

 with vellow. Oil Ihe older birds a liiu' o\al 



The 

 Waxwing. 



sliaft-ti|) of wax like red is appended. The Wax- 

 wing takes readily to cage or aviary life, and is 

 a charming exhibition bird, besides being docile 

 Willi other birds. It docs well on a not too rich 

 insectivorous food, such as recommended for the 

 Thrush, but the egg food should be omitted, and 

 a few grocer's currants scalded or a few raisins 

 or sultanas cut uj) line should be ailded. Live 

 grubs, a few gentles or a meal-worm, and insects 

 are much relished tit-bits. A supply of privet, 

 juniper and hawthorn berries should be given 

 during Ihe autumn when procurable. To avoiti 

 over-fatness, and consequent fits, a liberal supply 

 of ripe juicy fruit should be given the whole 

 year round. Its cage should be of box pattern, 

 and at least 3 feet long, 2 feet high and 12 or 

 11 inches deep with two perches, allowing a nice 

 wide hop between, or three may be arranged 

 with the centre one higher. The show cage and 

 food and water vessel recommended for the 

 rhrush family will answer well for the Waxwing. 

 The cage-bottom can be covered with blotting- 

 pajHT or peat moss, but in either case the tray, 

 excejit its front bar, should be made of zinc, 

 and frequently cleaned. 



Of the family Muscicapidn-. Ihe I'lycalchers 



show their allinily with the I'hruslies by the 



mottled character of the young 



J,^^ birds. They are generally 



Flycatchers. j_,„.,|[_ ^f ^^^ very attractive 



colouring, and of solitary habit. They seize their 

 Iirey on the wing, for which purpose they are 

 in every way beautifully formed. Two of the 

 family concern us : 



The Pied Flycatcher, Mii.sricdpii alricapilla 

 (Linn.), is a regular summer visitor, but much 

 less common and more local than 

 The Pied 11^,, Spotted Flycatcher. 11 



Flycatcher. ,.,..^.1,,,^ ^ur shores towards the 

 cud of .\piil. and breeds chiefly in Wales, the 

 Lake district, northern counties of l-'ngland, 

 and eastern and midland counties of Scotland, 

 Ihe iiest being usually jilaced in a hole in a 

 decayed tree. Though not easy to keep in a 

 cage, this bird is much more amenable to con- 

 linemenl than the ■' spotted." and may be caged 

 or placed in an aviary wilh Warblers. It is a 

 very striking bird; Ihe forehead, under ])arls, 

 and greater wing coverls are pure white, con- 

 Irasling againsi Ihe other more or less black 

 parts: Ihe primal y eoNcrts and quills are dark- 

 hrowii wilh a lawn-coloured spot (ui the secon- 

 daries. II is about ."4 inclies in lenglh. The 

 female differs from llie male in being brown 

 instead of black on Ihe upper parts of the body, 

 and the white i)orlions have a bullish lint. At 

 liberty it feeds almost entirely on insects, grubs, 

 w.jrins and berries. Its cage should be of box 

 pattern. 2 feet or even longer, IG inches high, 

 and 10 inches deep, and food the same as the 



