36 Song Birds. 



place, that it is impossible to know whether any are 

 really newly caught. At any rate, where it is feared that 

 such is the case, the cage should be put into a quiet 

 place shaded with a green woollen cover, so that the 

 inmate may not see persons moving about the rooms, 

 iind it should be supplied with abundance of whatever 

 is supposed to be its favourite food. Hemp seeds 

 generally fulfil this requirement. It is an immense 

 advantage to have a large cage made like the " trap " 

 or " store " cages, in which German canaries are 

 generally sold. The wooden bars do not hurt a bird 

 like any made of wire, and these cages are also 

 warmer, and probably feel to the birds more of a 

 protection. I recommend, therefore, a cage for new- 

 comers, made like four traps in one. 



Whatever the cage may be, the food and the 

 shading are essential points ; and the bird, if it does 

 not see where a voice comes from, will often get 

 very soon familiar with the tone of its mistress's, 

 even before the cage begins to be kept uncovered, 

 and when the seed is given it will be getting 

 accustomed to the voice that talks to it. After the 

 first day or two, I do not leave the seed tin always in 

 the cage, but take it away after each meal for a little 

 while, taking the opportunity of having a talk with 

 the bird when I give it back, and gradually bringing 

 the cage nearer to me as it gets more tame. The 

 water, of course, is always in the cage, and this must 



