56 OUR HOME PETS 



his individual taste, which must be consulted. 

 Lettuce is a common luxury, and greedily 

 eaten by many birds ; but I have had several 

 who would not touch it, while eagerly devour- 

 ing sorrel or plantain. All of the following 

 are good : chickweed, plantain (both seed stalk 

 and young leaf), both sorts of sorrel, celery 

 top, and lettuce. 



Excepting the last two named, these may 

 all be plucked between the sidewalk and the 

 fence in every town where grass grows freely 

 in the nooks and corners. In Brooklyn, for 

 instance, one may easily keep any number of 

 birds supplied. The way to place sorrel or 

 any loose leaves in the cage is, after rinsing 

 clean, to tie up a bunch of it, leaving long ends 

 to the string, with which to fasten the bunch 

 to the wires. By this arrangement a leaf may 

 be plucked without throwing the whole on 

 to the floor, where many birds will not touch 

 it. Whatever is placed there should be se- 

 cured so that it may be plucked and eaten 

 without falling. 



Many birds are fond of berries. Special fa- 

 vorites are huckleberries and " pokeberries ;" 

 a few birds like raspberries, several will eat 



