INTRODUCTION. 



their food when set at liberty, and must perish of hunger, or 

 at least die in the whiter. 



The same remarks are applicable to a work published by 

 M. Gambory at Copenhagen, in the year 1800. 



I think, indeed, it is better to be contented with possessing 

 in our houses artificial songs than to take so much trouble to 

 alter and spoil the very delightful music of nature *. 



HABITATIONS OF TAME BIRDS. 



THE space assigned to tame birds varies according to their 

 nature and destination. All are less at ease in a cage than 

 when at liberty in a room, where young pine branches, cut in 

 winter or early in spring, should be placed for their accommoda- 

 tion t. Several, however, never sing unless confined within 

 narrow limits, being obliged, as it would appear, to solace 

 themselves, for the want of liberty, with their song ; conse- 

 quently, birds only prized for the beauty of their plumage or 

 their pleasing actions, are best placed in a room. Rather large 

 birds, such as thrushes, should have a room appropriated to 

 them, or be kept in a large aviary, as they give a very un- 

 pleasant smell to the place which they occupy, unless carefully 

 cleaned ; but their young ones may be allowed the range of 

 any apartment, placing in a corner a cage or branch to rest and 

 sleep on, where they may run and hop freely, seeking a roost- 

 ing-place for themselves in the evening, on the fir branches 

 placed for that purpose ; or in a cage with several divisions, 

 into which they soon learn to retire. Some birds, such as the 



* Besides, we cannot say that there is a want of variety in this music. I may 

 again quote Mr. Barington (Phil. Trans.): " The death of the male parent, just 

 at the time his instructions were required, will occasion some variety in the song 

 of the young ones, who will thus have their attention directed to other birds, which 

 they will imitate or modify according to the conformation of their larynx; and 

 they will thus create new variations, which will afterwards be imitated by their 

 young ones, and become hereditary, until a circumstance of a similar nature may 

 introduce greater variations. If care was taken there need not be two birds that 

 sung exactly alike : however, these varieties are confined within certain limits." 

 TRANSLATOR. 



t If pine and fir branches cannot be obtained, oak, elm, or beech will do, cut ia 

 winter ; though not green, yet there will be leaves. TRANSLATOR. 



