CHATS AND WARBLERS. 101 



birds, lias wires in the front and on the two sides, with a close back, 

 and a green baize top. It should be eighteen inches long, thirteen 

 inches high at the sides, and fifteen inches in the middle under the 

 roof. In such a cage, the Stonechat will be likely to thrive, and 

 will prove a most interesting and agreeable pet, singing sweetly all 

 the year round, both by day and night, and imitating the notes of 

 other birds which may be placed near it, with great facility. 



Although the Whinchat may be kept alive for some time in con- 

 finement, Bechstein states that "it is always quiet and melancholy; if 

 allowed to run about, it only moves to procure food, and resumes its 

 place immediately, with its head sunk upon its breast/' This of course 

 refers to the adult, and after such a description, from so great an 

 authority, few of our readers will probably care to deprive one of the 

 pretty creatures of its liberty; the young birds, however, may be 

 sometimes brought up, if treated in the manner described for the 

 Stonechat. 



The Wheatear, although rather difficult to rear, is an attractive 

 occupant of an aviary. Sweet says, "it is very amusing to see these 

 birds play, flying up and down, and spreading open their wings in a 

 curious manner, dancing and singing at the same time." When first 

 taken they must be fed plentifully on ants' eggs and meal-worms; 

 afterwards the diet of bruised hemp, &c., already described, may be 

 gradually substituted, but they should be often fed on insects, of 

 which cockroaches and crickets are their especial favourites. 



The Grasshopper Warbler should be taken young, and reared in the 

 iiost, which should be placed in a covered basket, nearly filled with 

 dry hay or moss. Great attention must be paid to cleanliness, and 

 its food, consisting of the paste before recommended, should have a 

 few very small gravel stones mixed in it. Of the treatment of Savi's 

 Warbler we are unable to give any certain information, as we have 

 never met with a case of one kept in confinement. 



The Sedge Warbler is a most charming pet, it soon becomes very 

 tame, and will perform its prettily modulated song nearly all the year 

 through. To keep it in health, it should have free access, during the 

 warm weather, to a dish or pan of water, as it is particularly fond of 

 bathing, and will sometimes perform its ablutions three or four times 

 in the course of a day. In the winter it must not be allowed this 

 luxury more than once a week, the water should be placed in the 

 cage in the morning, and removed as soon as the bird has made uso 

 of it. When first caught, flies, caterpillars, and maggots, form its 

 best food; these after a few days may be mixed with a small quantity 

 of bruised hemp seed, and finely cut raw lean meat, well moistened 



