Food. 49 



9. Watercresses are one of the greatest of all birds' 

 dainties. Groundsel, plantain, chickweed and thistle - 

 seeds for the Goldfinches are also very good. They 

 say, indeed, that in Scotland the " Goldies," or 

 *.' Goldspinks," are sometimes found half buried in a 

 thistle head. Another grand luxury is a piece of 

 plain biscuit. Few birds will be found to refuse a 

 part of one of Huntley ana Palmer's cracknels. I am 

 very particular in what I give my pets ; but there is 

 quite an excitement when I open the well-known 

 box, and all call out to beg some. Stuck between 

 the wires, or suspended (by a string through it) from 

 a fir-tree branch, it is very amusing to watch the 

 incessant nibbling till the biscuit is quite finished. 



Sugar is not good for singing birds, a little 

 piece of Spanish liquorice in their water glass is 

 much better, and fresh ripe fruit is generally much 

 liked. I think on the whole apples and pears are 

 best ; though I do see very black bills in the cherry 

 season, and elderberries also are often much enjoyed. 



Lettuce leaves are very good, and may be grown 

 in winter; but young lettuces and Begonias look, 

 unluckily, a good deal alike ; and, on the whole, it is 

 preferable that the former should be pulled up. I 

 have not yet forgotten the sudden dab made by Dickie 

 at a special Begonia seedling, which was out of the 

 pot and down her throat before I should have thought 

 she had had time to see it. 





