Birds to Keep. 9 



for keeping Woocllarks happily, and I am glad to say 

 that I have never had one, and cannot describe them, 

 therefore. 



7. But for the gold-crest Wrens loveliest of small 

 birds, our English humming birds ; they are happy 

 enough in a latticed bell cage, closely covered in 

 winter with green baize at night, perches wrapped in 

 flannel, and all sorts of luxuries in the way of warmth. 

 They generally sleep away the winter in some wool- 

 lined hole a warm room or a plant case in one is 

 therefore best for them ; the glass lined with a fine 

 woollen net, and a large myrtle or a tiny fir-tree for 

 them to hang on like balls of brown and gold. They 

 greatly like a little fresh earth to peck and scratch at ; 

 and flies are dainties, for these birds are of the soft- 

 billed race. 



Bread and milk, a roll, or some biscuit powder 

 squeezed through boiling water, and beaten up with 

 cold milk is their best food. I fancy egg, too, might 

 suit them ; but they must have some insects. Ants' 

 eggs particularly they like. Bechstein says that to 

 touch rape or camellia seed is death to them ; but I 

 cannot vouch for this from experience. 



8. Bobins, again, may be made so tame and happy 

 in a room or greenhouse, that it would be a pity to- 

 attempt to keep them in a cage. They have to be 

 cultivated in the cold snowy weather, or to be 

 brought up on familiar terms from the nest. I 



