ACCENTORS, IN CONFINEMENT. 83 



IN CONFINEMENT. 



OUR great authority on Cage Birds, (Bechstein), places the Alpine 

 Warbler, or Accentor, in the list of those birds "tameable when old," 

 but he gives us no particulars as to its treatment, knowing evidently 

 very little about it; with its near relative the Hedge Accentor, or 

 Dunnock, he is more familiar; he gives it the credit of being an agree- 

 able addition to the aviary, on account of its liveliness, cheerful 

 disposition, and pleasant song, but says that it has no pretension to 

 the name of the Tree Nightingale, bestowed on it by some of his 

 countrymen. It breeds in confinement, and the female will sometimes 

 pair with the Redbreast. Strange to say, it is subject to the small-pox, 

 and a cutaneous disease, which makes the eyes swell, the circle around 

 them become bald, the beak grow scabby, and finally affects the feet 

 and the whole of the body; notwithstanding the poor bird lives on, 

 frequently for years in this sorry plight, much to the shame of its 

 keeper. We should say, when the life of a bird, or any other 

 creature kept by man, becomes a burden to it, a speedy death is the 

 truest humanity. Master Bobby is such a familiar and domestic bird, 

 we may be sure that he would do well in confinement, and be a 

 great favourite; he sings well, better in a cage than in the aviary, 

 and can be taught many pretty tricks, such as eating from the 

 hand or the mouth, L'issing, chirping at the word of command, &c. 

 If sheltered and fed during the winter, and set at liberty in the 

 spring, he will often come and ask for admission when the inclement 

 season comes again. He is a great destroyer of flies, fleas, and other 

 insect tormentors. Diarrhsea and decline are the only two diseases to 

 which he is subject; for the former a lively spider or two should be 

 given, for the latter ants' eggs and mealworms. Only mind, you must 

 not turn two Cock Robins loose in the aviary together, if you do 

 murder may be committed, and the victor, when once his blood is up, 

 may attack some other fellow-lodger, and kill him or her too. 



The Bluebreast, the Redstart, and the Blackstart are all very attractive 

 aviary birds; sweet songsters every one, very tame and confiding, and 

 beautiful in appearance. The German fanciers call the first the Italian 



