Preface. v 



object of those who keep such pets. In writing 

 of this subject, I fear I have been tempted 

 to record too many of my own birds' doings ; 

 though I hope this may be forgiven me, on 

 the ground that as a good novel gives the 

 best insight into the manners of a country, 

 so a relation of what actually goes on under 

 any course of treatment is often the best expla- 

 nation of it. 



While, then, I confess to having no preten- 

 sions to the science of ornithology, my own 

 fondness for birds has led me to read the works 

 and to test the advice of many of the best 

 authorities on the subject, comparing it with 

 what I have seen of the birds themselves ; and 

 as during some time, illness has reduced me to 

 the companionship of birds for much of my chief 

 amusement, the numbers that fill my room have 

 made me very familiar with many of their ways. 



I have, therefore, tried to show in this little 

 volume how birds may be made tame, and how 

 easily they may be kept ; hoping that it may 



