100 Song Birds. 



dishes on the floor : hemp and canary seeds may 

 also be strewn about ; the hemp need not be broken, 

 as it is swallowed whole ; but the nearer we can 

 approach the food they would have when wild the 

 greater are always the chances of preserving them, 

 both in health and song. It would be almost useless 

 to give any list of these birds. Larks do not do well 

 except in an outdoor aviary, and Whitethroats, Black- 

 caps and Garden "Warblers give perhaps most chance 

 of success, as well as being among the most desirable. 



CHAPTER XII. 



MAKING FKIENDS WITH WILD BIRDS. 



1. IT may seem at first as if to make friends with 

 wild birds would be rather difficult, and also rather 

 useless, yet it is really a pleasant branch of bird 

 acquaintance, especially for those who live in a 

 retired place, where they may hope to preserve their 

 favourites from the fowler's snares, as well as from 

 their own gardener's guns. 



I cannot pretend here, however, to lay down un- 

 failing rules ; I can only mention plans which I 

 have practised, or heard of from those on whose 

 testimony I can depend. The simple cottage plan 

 of feeding the birds at the door- step in winter, when 



