Y 14 INTRODUCTION. 



Those birds which devour everything thrown to them, must 

 be protected against the possibility of having any food given 

 to them that contains pepper or much salt, and especially 

 against putrid meat. This is a universal rule of precaution. 

 It may further be observed, that to birds confined in cages, 

 no more must be given than they can eat during the day; 

 otherwise they will accustom themselves to scatter their food 

 out of the vessel, and eat the best first, leaving the worst for 

 subsequent fare; and are consequently to-day well, and 

 drooping to-morrow. 



BREEDING. 



There is but little to be said of the breeding of birds in 

 confinement, as, in the majority of cases, it is difficult to accom- 

 plish, excepting in such as can be thoroughly familiarised, 

 like Canaries. Of breeding places, there are two kinds, one a 

 large cage made of wire or wood, and the other the entire 

 range of a room. Both should be dry, airy, and exposed in 

 our northern climate to the warmth and light of the sun. It is 

 chiefly requisite to supply birds that are to breed with a still, 

 solitary, and spacious abode ; and it is preferable to give them 

 an entire apartment in which evergreens are placed that have 

 not lost their leaves. Above all things, it is desirable to make 

 this abode as nearly resemble their natural dwelling place as 

 possible, that they may be excited to pair. With every care, 

 however, to render their breeding place like the natural one, 

 it is difficult to supply them with the necessary materials for 

 their nests. This deficiency should be supplied by nests arti- 

 ficially formed of woven cotton, willow, straw, or turned wood, 

 into which they will only have to convey appropriate linings ; 

 for this purpose, they must be supplied with the hair of animals 

 and raw silk, cotton, wool, &c. 



Especial care must be taken to furnish the birds with 

 requisite food, which partly contributes to fit old ones for 

 breeding, and which must also be suited to the varying 



