80 



FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



This bird may be kept in a cag-e or aviary, where its 

 handsome appearance will immediately attract attention. 

 Redstarts are, however, very delicate, and require artificial 

 heat in Avinter, and will seldom thrive uid3ss meat be i?iven 

 and a plentiful supply of meal-worms. They have been 

 reported to have learnt to whistle a tune, Mr. Sweet 

 mentioninfi^ one so gifted. They will, even in a state of 

 nature, imitate the songs of other birds^ such as the Robin, 

 Lesser Whitethroat, Chaffinch, Garden AVarbler, and even 

 the chirping of the Sparrow ; and were they more hardy 

 and susceptible of aviary domestication, there is no doubt 

 that their powers of song could be considerably developed, 

 as in the case of the Canar^^ )( 



