12 INTRODUCTION. 



interesting of all the feathered tribe, have been less known or 

 noticed than others, probably owing to the greater number 

 only visiting us in summer, when the trees are so densely 

 clothed with foliage that birds are not easily seen, and when 

 heard sing are generally considered by those who hear them to 

 be either blackbirds or thrushes, or some of the more common 

 singing birds. When they are seen the greater number of 

 them receive the general appellation of whitethroat, without 

 distinction, though this is rather singular, since they are all 

 very distinct when examined, and their songs are all very 

 different. If you speak to a bird-fancier or bird-catcher about 

 any of them, you might as well talk of a bird in the wilds of 

 America, for they know nothing of them. Many of them are 

 therefore difficult to be procured in the neighbourhood- of 

 London, though most of them are plentiful there. 



With care, the whole of them may be preserved in good 

 health through the year, and many of them will sing through 

 the greater part of the winter if properly managed. They 

 require to be kept warm ; the room in which they are should 

 never be allowed to be below temperate, or they will suffer 

 from it, particularly the tender sorts ; at first the cold will 

 make them lose their sight, after which they seldom recover. 

 The redstart and nightingale are most subject to this ; it some- 

 times also happens to the fauvette, and also to the whinchat. 



When in a wild state, the birds of this sort feed principally 

 on insects or fruit, and berries of various kinds. None of them 

 are seed birds, so that they must be managed accordingly. 

 The general food which I give them is hemp-seed, bruised up 

 in boiling water, as small as it can be made ; I then put to this 

 about the same quantity, or rather more of bread, on which is 

 also poured boiling water, and then the whole is bruised up 

 together into a moist paste, particular care being required that 

 there be very little or no salt in the bread ; for should there be 

 rather much it will kill the whole of the birds. The food 

 should also be mixed up fresh every morning, as it soon spoils 

 and turns sour, in which case the birds will not touch it, and 

 sometimes it will make them go off their food altogether. 

 When given to the birds, some fresh, raw, lean meat ought to 

 be cut up small enough for them to swallow, and mixed with it 

 I generally put about the same quantity of meat as paste, and 



