Warblers. 83 



first moulting. The males are generally the brightest 

 plumaged birds, even in the nest ; but there is not a 

 marked difference between the male and female till they 

 have moulted, when the head and breast of the former 

 become very much brighter than in the latter. The 

 young birds will acquire the Nightingale's notes if put 

 within hearing of his song. The Robin has an exceed- 

 ing predilection for butter and fatty substances. Anec- 

 dotes are. related of these birds hopping in at the 

 window of a house to eat candles, tallow, and butter, 

 and seizing scraps of fat from an Eagle's perch. Pro- 

 bably the fat helps them to bear the cold : I have heard 

 of many birds devouring it eagerly during the winter, 

 and leaving it untouched in warmer weather. In con- 

 finement they should have a good deal of variety in 

 their food German paste, hard egg, chopped meat, 

 soft cheese, bread and fresh butter, flics, ants, cater- 

 pillars, spiders, and earwigs, and plenty of fresh water, 

 and a daily bath. If kept in a cage it must not be less 

 than eighteen or twenty inches long, twelve wide, and 

 twelve high. A Nightingale's cage with a green baize 

 roof would suit the Robin; the perches should be 

 covered with wash-leather. Ants' eggs and mealworms 

 should be given if he is affected with dysentery. A 

 little bruised malt and plenty of ripe elderberries will 

 be beneficial if he is out of order. He may easily be 

 taught to fly about the room, and even to fly out into 

 the garden, and return to his cage when called. He is 



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