A SCHOOL CAGE. 283 



selves. An old breeding cage may be made to answer the 

 same purpose, by pulling out the wire, and substituting 

 net in the place of it. Of course the cage must be put in 

 some secure place, as the net would be a poor protection 

 against marauding cats ; it will admit the air freely, and 

 through its openings the young birds can be fed. 



A SCHOOL CAGE 



Is generally a box with several divisions, each large enough 

 to contain a bird, which must not be able to see its next 

 door neighbour, nor the occupant of any other cell in the 

 prison. A square hole, and two round ones, and a slit at 

 the bottom, are cut in the side walls of each range of cells, 

 and every division between them, and through these a 

 feeding trough, and a sliding board below, and two perches 

 pass the whole length of the range. There may be several 

 of these rows of cells placed one on the other, with backs 

 and fronts of open wire-work, so that the air can have free 

 access. There is a little door in the front of each cell, and 

 suspended outside are little tin or earthen drinking cups ; 

 the latter is best. The advantage of an arrangement like this 

 is, that a number of young birds can be all taught together 

 without having their attention distracted from the lesson 

 by the sight of their fellow pupils. Sometimes a number 

 of small separate cages, such as itinerant dealers in birds 

 carry them about in, are used, and the effect is the same ; 

 but those who rear many songsters generally adopt a plan 

 like this in teaching them. 



The music master set over this school may be a 

 Nightingale, Woodlark, Skylark, or well-trained Canary ; 

 and the little pupils will exhibit different degrees of apti- 

 tude, according to their attention and ability, for as in 

 human beings so in birds, all have not the same powers 

 and dispositions ; some are patient and plodding ; some 

 quick and restless ; some learn a lesson with difficulty, and 

 retain it long ; some have great facility of acquirement, 

 but soon lose what they have been taught. 



The Germans are the most painstaking teachers of Song- 

 birds, and from them the London dealers receive their 



