On Taming Birds. 15 



2. When young birds are brought up from the 

 nest, either reared in a cage by the old birds, or 

 by hand feeding, they are naturally quite tame ; 

 but there is often much difficulty in obtaining them, 

 and when they are caught just fledged, as is usually 

 the case with those offered for sale in the early 

 summer in London, and other towns, it is exceed- 

 ingly difficult to accustom them to their food; and, 

 with a beginner, certainly, if not on a remarkably 

 good system, nine-tenths of the birds so bought will 

 die in the first week. The best way possible, is 

 to find a good-natured old bird, though that is a 

 mere chance ; still in a good stock of birds it does 

 often happen that one will respond to the poor little 

 birds' entreaties to be fed and comforted. The young 

 Goldfinches especially are very tender, but charming 

 if they will live. The rearing of young birds, how- 

 ever, is described in another chapter ; my business- 

 now is chiefly about the taming. 



3. Birds that are caught in winter, often take 

 to the cage more kindly than would be expected ; 

 and, indeed, in London I do not think it is of much 

 use to let them loose again under the supposition 

 that they are unhappy. The chances are that they 

 would die at that cold season, either of cold or 

 hunger, or that they would fall again into the bird- 

 catcher's hands. 



4. Many birds are so wild at first in a change of 



