286 KINDS OF FOOD. 



as they will then sleep on ; so if it is absolutely necessary 

 for the feeder to be away from them for a longer time than 

 usual, he should, directly they are fed, put them into a dark 

 place, there to remain until he is able to feed them again. 

 By adopting this plan, a person whose avocations took him 

 from home so that he could only feed his birds before he 

 went out in the morning, and then again at his own meal- 

 times, has been successful in rearing them. 



When, as is often the case, young birds get very dirty, 

 they may be cleaned with a piece of flannel dipped in warm 

 soap and water. After the dirt is removed from their 

 feathers, very gently wipe them dry, put them back into 

 the nest, and cover them up warmly. Should they shiver 

 and seem cold, wrap them in flannel and place them by 

 the fire or in the sun for a while. 



Perhaps the most dangerous period is just before the 

 young birds learn to peck their food, when they are unwil- 

 ling to be fed, and unable to feed themselves. In this 

 emergency a well-disposed elderly Chaffinch, or some other 

 bird, has done good service in feeding the youngsters, and 

 teaching them how to take their own food. An old male 

 Chaffinch has been known to feed a dozen young birds, to 

 which, a minute before his introduction among them, he 

 was an entire stranger. 



Not unfrequently, when a young brood is taken and put 

 into a cage which is hung up near the nesting-place, the old 

 birds will feed and nourish the young until they can do for 

 themselves. 



FOOD. 



In relation to the food which they take, Bech stein classi- 

 fies chamber or cage birds under four heads : first, those 

 which live exclusively on seeds, as Canaries, Goldfinches, 

 Siskins, Linnets, &c. ; second, those which eat both seeds 

 and insects, as Quails, Larks, Chaffinches, and Bullfinches 

 (some of these, however, also eat berries and buds) ; third, 

 those which eat berries and insects, such as Nightingales, 

 Redbreasts, Thrushes and Fauvettes ; fourth, those which 

 eat insects only, such as Wagtails, the Chats, and most of 



