5 2 DEL AGO A BAY. 



trap the bigodas it would not so much matter, 

 as they very soon seem to like their captivity, 

 and sing away merrily ; some even will not quit 

 their cage when the door is purposely left open. 

 One little thing I lately bought without a tail, 

 intending to set him free when it had grown, 

 was quite a trouble to get rid of; and I have 

 known them to fly out and return to their cage 

 again at night ; but the little wretches the boys, 

 I meau catch insect-feeders and the beautiful 

 sun-birds, which soon die in captivity, by smear- 

 ing bird-lime on the twigs, and either thrust 

 them into cages, or bring the poor, frightened 

 little things for sale dangling by a string tied to 

 one leg the leg often broken. 



When they bring the insect-feeders to me I 

 either take the cage (under pretence of carefully 

 examining the birds), and slyly open the door 

 and set the poor prisoners free, or buy them 

 and let them fly at once (a proceeding which 

 always causes much astonishment), and try to 

 make the boys understand how cruel they are 

 quite ineffectually, I need not say. 



