1 68 Bird-keeping. 



birds of other species placed under his charge. Yet 

 these birds are better kept apart when full grown, per- 

 haps because the singing powers of the female interfere 

 with those of the male. They are very sensitive, rest- 

 less birds too, never still, and fretted by the bustle of 

 an aviary, therefore they should be kept alone in a 

 good sized cage, and be allowed an occasional flight 

 round the room. I have read that the bright scarlet 

 of the plumage becomes in time deteriorated in con- 

 finement ; but probably this is from being kept either 

 in too close an atmosphere or fed on improper food. 

 They are hardy birds, and if kept out of draughts, and 

 properly fed, will preserve their health and beauty 

 many years. I have had one ten, and some have been 

 kept twenty years in a cage. They live in woods and 

 sheltered hollows in North America, where holly, laurel, 

 and other evergreens grow, and feed mainly on Indian 

 corn and buckwheat : they are fond of apples, cherries, 

 and other fruit ; but they appear to require a mixture 

 of insect or animal food, with millet, canary, and hemp- 

 seed, of which latter they must have only a few seeds 

 in the day. A lady who had a pet Virginian Nightin- 

 gale for more than thirteen years, says she fed him 

 upon canary-seed, giving him a few hemp-seeds, four 

 or five mealworms, or spiders, grubs, or caterpillars, 

 every day. He was fond of Spanish nuts, almonds, 

 walnuts, and Indian corn, but could not crack the nuts. 

 A piece of bay salt and a lump of chalk were always 



