Rearing Young Birds. 85 



a sanded floor. Crashed hemp is in almost all cases 

 the best food at first for Finches and such like. And 

 this should be mixed with a good share of stale bread- 

 crumbs, merely crumbled up, not soaked. Maw seed 

 is often particularly useful in teaching birds to pick 

 up, and it is essential always at night to leave abun- 

 dant food for the next day's breakfast. 



The sooner the little birds will wash the better for 

 them ; and their cage should never be without green 

 food, chickweed, groundsel, or watercresses, which, in 

 London at least, can be obtained all winter. 



5. A hard-boiled egg, white and yolk finely chopped 

 up together, is useful for these little birds. It must, 

 however, be constantly given fresh. 



A rather novel and exceedingly useful remedy is a 

 little strongish tea, when the birds seem sickly. It 

 should be left in the cage as well as some fresh water ; 

 the birds then can take it or not, as their instinct 

 leads them, and when they are weakly, or liable to 

 cold, it often is good for them. 



The more sunshine these young things can have 

 the better ; one end and the back of the cage being 

 partly covered, they can find shade if necessary, and 

 if the weather is hot, a branch or two of an evergreen 

 makes a nice trembling shade, in which they all 

 delight. 



6. In rearing these little creatures, a great deal 

 depends on obtaining the food they are accustomed to 



