Lists of Birds. 153 



12. The ROBIN REDBREAST is a pleasant bird to 

 have flying ahout the room. My own has a German 

 cage, one of the zinc bell-shaped ones, in which he lives- 

 or not as it seems good to him. Robins would not be 

 happy if obliged to stay in a cage, though they are 

 so very much at home in a more extended space, and 

 go in and out of their own house. My tame Robin, 

 too, attracts others of his own race ; and I have 

 hardly ever heard a more sweet and silvery song than 

 that of one of these wild Robins sitting on a gera- 

 nium or evergreen, and singing with all its might. 



13. THRUSHES, too, are delightful birds, when we 

 want to " make believe " that we are amongst the 

 fields. After a summer shower, even in confinement, 

 what a flood of melody the " mavis and merle " pour 

 out! 



14. A party of the mischievous TOM TITS should 

 live alone, though I do not believe in their hurting 

 other birds. A good sized bell -shaped cage shows 

 them best, but a square one perhaps is the better for 

 them. Their brothers, the " Joe Bents," are murder- 

 ous, and must be excluded. 



15. WRENS. A very small wired cage or latticed 

 house may contain these mites of birds. They like 

 very much, also, to fly about the room, and to sleep in 

 warm, snug nooks. But the nooks must be very warm 

 indeed, as they are very tender. 



16. CHAFFINCHES are brisk, lively birds to have 



