50 Song Birds. 



10. Unless a very large stock is kept, probably 

 most people will find it least trouble to feed their birds 

 on seed as a general rule. It seems to me the most 

 plain course to take and niy own birds have gene- 

 rally never tasted anything but seed and vegetables, 

 with a little egg, or perhaps a few stale bread -crumbs, 

 for weeks and months together. 



There is an exceedingly strong prejudice against 

 giving birds much hemp-seed, it is said to make 

 Bullfinches black, and to turn Goldfinches grey- at 

 least to deprive them of their brilliant plumage. 



On this subject I can only mention the caution, 

 and state my own experience, which certainly does 

 not forbid to the Finch tribe generally, especially in 

 the winter, a tolerable allowance of their favourite 

 food. I cannot imagine crimson brighter than my 

 Goldie's head and all my birds have always had 

 access to a little of it except young Linnets, which 

 are so gluttonous. Canaries have generally a little 

 allowed to them ; but I think it probable that one 

 thing which causes it not to hurt my birds, is that 

 they have always so good a supply of green food, and 

 facilities for bathing, as well as some time for exer- 

 cise. In the case of both hemp and rape, however, it 

 must be remembered that they are heating foods , 

 containing a large amount of oil. 



In the summer, birds having as much green food as 

 they like, often do not eat a very great deal of seed ; 



