WHAT SHALL HE EAT? 57 



cherries and grapes, and others like pears 

 better than anything. In winter there are 

 oranges, a section of which is a great treat to 

 some birds, and bananas, of which a few are 

 fond ; but the great stand-bys of that season 

 are apples and raisins and the dried currants 

 of the grocers. 



The apples we give to our birds should be 

 well flavored and tender, such as one would 

 put on her own table, and neither gnarly, sour, 

 nor withered. A good apple cut into eighths, 

 or even smaller, as one cuts it for pie, and 

 wedged firmly into the cage directly over a 

 perch, where the bird can get at it without 

 clinging to the wires upsidedown, or hovering 

 on wing before it, will generally make birds 

 very happy. The currants should be washed, 

 and soaked all night, when they will be full and 

 soft, and a great treat to nearly all, especially 

 to the soft-billed birds. Raisins must be cut 

 into small bits and the seeds removed. 



Another thing which would probably shock 

 the bird-dealer, who has a regulation menu of 

 " mixed seed " for all, is the fact, which I have 

 proved to my own satisfaction, that nearly all 

 seed-eating birds relisfy animal food, and are 



