296 



BRITISH SONG BIK.DS. 



brown, and the feathers are tipped 

 with a paler tint of the same colour; 

 the feathers of its neck and breast are 

 rose-coloured, edged with white ; the 

 rump is rose-coloured also, and the 

 rest of the under part of the body 

 white; the greater and lesser wing- 

 coverts^are bordered with dirty white, 

 which forms two light bars across the 

 wings; the forehead is of a most 

 brilliant crimson ; bill light brown 

 colour, dusky at the point; legs dusky. 

 The female is not so strongly co- 

 loured, neither has she any rose- tint on her breast; the upper 

 part of her body is speckled with brown and white, and her breast 

 is slightly spotted with the same hues. These docile birds may be 

 taught to draw up a little bucket of water, like the goldfinch, 

 to eome and go at command, to hop along a species of ladder, 

 composed of small wooden pegs driven into a wall, about six inches 

 apart, and so arranged as to form a gradual ascent and descent, as 



shown in the annexed figure, 



"HuIIIxJ IJ^illCiTI) anci a ^ so to kp fr m ne 



TT }^g^^r^^T^TT^_ thumb to another, held 



*-=.-;, -- aS /^ i ~\ ,._? ~gr^ * a ^ some distance asunder. 

 t "^ y~ ' L_J^!]L ~ 1 ,.,07 **" Before commencing their 

 R1 tuition, they must be de- 



prived of the power of flying away, either by clipping the feathers 

 of one wing, or by pulling out some of the flight feathers altogether; 

 the latter method, though more cruel, is too frequently preferred, 

 though by this plan the wing is more quickly restored to its natural 

 condition again, the feathers being renewed in about six weeks, 

 while by the other plan they are not restored until the next moulting 

 time. By the time the wing is properly grown, the birds generally 

 become so tame as to render a repetition of the operation unnecessary ; 

 indeed, so thoroughly domesticated will they become, that they may 

 be allowed almost perfect liberty ; they may even be taken out to the 

 distance of half a mile, or a mile from home, and they will return, 

 although sometimes after a week's absence. The food proper for 

 them is canary, rape, and flax seed, mixed ; sometimes also a few 

 grains of hemp, as a treat, with maw-seed, or a little saffron in the 

 water, as a medicine. 



THE REDSTART. 



This is another handsome bird, and a very pleasing singer. It 

 derives its name from the bright mahogany- red colour of its upper 

 tail coverts and tail feathers, which show like dashes of fire as the 

 bird flits or starts from one bough to another, when alarmed. It is 

 fond of frequenting the borders of woods, or wherever a clump of 

 trees or a copse offers shelter ; and its nest is very often found in old 

 walls covered with ivy, in which it lays five eggs of a greenish blue, 



