12 OUR HOME PETS 



but I warn you that you must love him, and 

 let him know it, or he will be little more than 

 a shadow in your house. He is so sensitive 

 in organization that you must win his heart 

 before you can enjoy his finest song, at least 

 in our climate, so far from his home. 



The choice may depend somewhat upon 

 another thing; birds are divided into seed- 

 eaters and soft-billed. The former class, which 

 includes parrots, canaries, and all finches, is 

 easily cared for, the food being ready for use 

 when bought. The latter class thrushes, 

 bluebirds, and all insect eaters must have 

 soft food like mocking-bird food, ants' eggs, 

 meat, etc., all of which require preparation 

 and greater care. 



To speak in detail of the more common va- 

 rieties to be procured in our stores. The 

 qualities of the canary it is not necessary to 

 mention ; he is so common that every one is 

 familiar with them. I will begin, therefore, 

 with the next best known, the parrot. Of this 

 bird there are almost innumerable varieties, 

 of nearly every color and size. The gray Afri- 

 can, a solemn-looking personage in light dove- 

 color with a brilliant red tail, is considered 



