SO OUR HOME PETS 



ible, since he cannot be taught to expand the 

 chest by deep breathing. 



A seed diet gives the muscles compactness; 

 therefore, according to this system, seeds 

 should not be the principal diet until he "grad- 

 uates," but rather a soft food of hard-boiled 

 egg grated with cracker or bread, and boiled 

 in milk to the consistency of stiff paste. Some 

 seed may be added, and this may be varied by 

 bread and crackers in milk, and grated egg, or 

 a little lean beef chopped very fine. He should 

 have variety of food and plenty of it, for he is 

 growing and must be well nourished. It is 

 good, also, to let him fly about, for this helps 

 to expand the chest. 



Now to teach him. If he is to sing " Annie 

 Laurie," or " The Last Rose of Summer," he 

 must be placed in a quiet room, with the cage 

 covered. Then a few notes of the chosen air 

 should be whistled, or played on some instru- 

 ment flute, bird-organ, or piano. They must 

 be played slowly and distinctly, in correct 

 time, and over and over till the bird begins to 

 try it himself. He must not see the teacher, 

 nor hear the least noise to distract his atten- 

 tion from the notes so constantly repeated. 



