AUTHORS PREFACE. Ill 



it frequents in order to find it, and when it has been found 

 and secured, a desire to know the best place to keep it in 

 follows as a matter of course. 



Food. — In keeping tame birds it is most important to 

 know what food is best adapted to each species ; that is 

 to say, what approaches nearest to its natural aliment. 

 I have therefore divided the directions on this point into 

 two parts ; showing in the first the natural food of the 

 bird in its wild state, and in the second what is best for it 

 in confinement. 



Breeding. — Many birds succeed best when reared from 

 the nest, which makes it necessary to speak of their man- 

 ner of being hatched, and the like. 



Diseases. — Birds being very tender creatures, on pass- 

 ing from a state of liberty to slavery, in which they lose 

 the means of exercise and proper food, are soon afilicted 

 wiih many diseases occasioned by this change alone, with- 

 out reckoning others that naturally follow in their train. 

 Under this head I endeavour to point out these, and their 

 proper treatment ; but I confess that this is the most 

 imperfect part of my work, and I wish some clever expe- 

 rienced medical man v/ould take the trouble to render it 

 more correct. 



Chase. — On going into the country a wish often arises 

 to procure a bird, and therefore under this head I have 

 described the method of catching such species as may be 

 desired. 



