190 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 



for sale by the "gunners," who wound 

 them in the wing, during the months of 

 September and October, in the large reed 

 marshes which line the borders of our 

 rivers. 



Like the Oriole they are omnivorous, 

 but may be easily kept upon the different 

 kinds of seeds given to Canaries, and will 

 readily feed upon swelled rice, or buck- 

 wheat and oats, of which they are very 

 fond. During its season they may be 

 given an ear of green corn, which they 

 greedily devour. They should also be 

 well supplied with water in a pan, to allow 

 them to bathe, which they do several 

 times a day, flinging the liquid contents 

 over every part of the cage; and with a 

 sufficiency of gravel, which they use in 

 considerable quantities to promote diges- 

 tion. 



They should be kept in a good sized 

 cage, and in a warm room in winter; 

 though they are able to endure considera- 

 ble cold. 



