86 Song Birds. 



have when wild. Thistle seed, dandelion seed, 

 plantain, besides groundsel and chickweed, and, per- 

 haps most important of all, some insects ; ants' eggs 

 are the pleasantest to give them, as they are only 

 eggs ; but aphides and most sorts of insects are 

 welcome. Goldfinches, in spite of their character 

 for only eating seeds, are very glad of insects for a 

 change, especially for their young, and so are 

 Canaries, Bullfinches, and the ichole, in fact, of the 

 great Sparrow (or Passerine) class. When these 

 birds are reared by hand, the food given should 

 be rather moist, as the old birds feed from the bill, 

 moistening the food in their own mouths first. I have 

 found hard-boiled egg pounded (always white and 

 yolk) and mixed with a little water, to answer very 

 well ; but it should be remembered, that the old birds 

 bring them whatever they can catch, and that thus, 

 they have a constant change of food, which is extremely 

 serviceable. Pounded mortar or lime rubbish is very 

 good to have mixed with the sand. Egg-shells 

 calcined and ground answer the purpose perfectly. 



7. The little chicks are extremely funny, they 

 are so marvellously conceited and bold. One fledgling 

 I have now,' will take to roosting on the middle of a 

 perch, and will let no one else intrude upon him there ; 

 and as there are only four high perches in my cage, 

 and more than twenty birds, it may be supposed that 

 a considerable fuss ensues. 



