Finches. 141 



little pet, and sang deliciously. I have a still more 

 excellent songster now (in charge for a friend), who 

 sings all the evening after his cage is covered up. As 

 late as ten o'clock at night I hear a tentative little note 

 or two, followed by a soft low warble, swelling out into 

 the full song if a word of notice and encouragement 

 is given : he is of the true Hartz breed, and has many 

 of the Nightingale's trills and deep bell notes. I was 

 advised, in order to keep his song in perfection, to feed 

 him entirely on bird turnip-seed and Hartz Mountain 

 bread, only allowing him a little green food, and no 

 other dainties. These Hartz birds are especially sus- 

 ceptible to changes of temperature, and must be most 

 carefully protected from all draughts ; a sudden chill 

 would probably ruin the voice for life. I should never 

 venture to put them out of doors. On a sunny, calm 

 day, the hardier Canaries will enjoy the open window, 

 and their cages may be hung outside ; but care must 

 be taken to shield them from a blast of wind, and to 

 shelter them from the extreme heat of the sun. The 

 cages which have a penthouse roof are useful to be 

 put out of doors, as protecting the birds from the ex- 

 tremes of heat and cold, which are so injurious to them 

 all. It is cruel to leave birds exposed to these, or to 

 allow them to remain out of doors late at night. 

 They ought never to be out after sunset. The sun 

 has a very reviving power over birds that are ailing. 

 I have seen them quite restored by being put within 



