CAGE FOR THE GOLDFINCH. 279 



does not require a seed vessel, being one of the soft-billed 

 species ; the receptacle for food should be of earthenware, 

 a little pan fitted into a mahogany frame, hung like a 

 door on hinges, and made to open outwards. This should 

 be placed at one of the sides of the cage, near the bottom, 

 and opposite to it a similar frame, with a glass washer. 

 The lower perch should be so placed that the bird can 

 stand on it, and easily reach either the water or food, and 

 the upper should run across the centre, so that there shall 

 be room for the rather long tail of the bird, whether it 

 turn to the back or the front (4). 



Kidd, who speaks with authority upon this subject, says, 

 * Let the sides, back, and top of the Nightingale's cage be 

 all of mahogany, in length seventeen inches, height four- 

 teen inches, depth eleven inches. Let the front be of 

 strong metal, lacquered wire, or of cane. In the centre of 

 this let there be a hole made sufficiently large to give the 

 bird's head fair play when drinking, and let a drinking 

 pan be suspended immediately opposite.' Tin must not be 

 used for the reception of the food. Nothing is so suitable 

 for this purpose as a small white earthenware circular 

 pan, fitted in a hinged frame, in the manner above de- 

 scribed. This author recommends Mr. Clifford, of 24 

 Great St. Andrew's Street, Holborn, to supply his l model ' 

 Nightingale's cages, and also the birds to inhabit them. 

 This is the principal London dealer in what are called soft- 

 meat birds ; that is the insect feeders, which require the most 

 careful management ; of their food we shall speak presently. 

 Nightingales, it seems, may be purchased at from five to 

 thirty shillings each, according to the quality of their song. 



THE GOLDFINCH'S CAGE 



Should be one which allows a full view of the pretty 

 tricks and motions of this clever little performer. Let the 

 sides and front be of open wire -work certainly, but not 

 the top, for the bird has a habit of running along the wires, 

 and turning its head backwards, and for this antic, where 

 there are top wires, it seems to prefer them, and to perform 

 it more frequently, expending thus its energies rather than 



