THE NONPAREIL. 99 



The method of trapping Nonpareils is, to place a stuffed specimen or a painted 

 plaster- Paris imitation in a trap-cage : his brilliant feathers attract the attention of 

 the passing flock, which pounce upon him, and spring the trap ; thus making pris- 

 oners of themselves. In this manner thousands are caught every spring, mostly by 

 negroes, who make an easy living while the game lasts. The Nonpareil begins to 

 feed immediately after being caged, which is contrary to the usual habit of trapped 

 birds. He may be bought as cheaply in the Northern States as in the Southern, 

 because the great numbers sent North are usually traded off for Canaries and other 

 imported birds, which cannot be sent direct to the Southern States ; thus making the 

 cost in reality but little above the original price in their breeding-places. Many a 

 Northern lady, while visiting the orange-groves of Florida in the winter season, be- 

 comes enchanted with the beautiful appearance of the Nonpareil as seen in his wild 

 state, and offers some wily negro a tempting prize for the capture of one. The 

 negro, who is always ready to please this class of customers, easily procures one, 

 and charges the price which he usually procures for a dozen from the bird-dealer. 

 The lady, not being a bird-fancier, takes unusual care to transport her charge safely 

 to her Northern home, and exhibits him as one of the rarities and beauties of the 

 Southern clime. If she chances to take the trouble to visit the nearest bird-shop, 

 she will see how easily she could have saved the trouble, and one-half the original 

 cost, by buying at home. 



The Nonpareil is very easily tamed : he is passionately fond of flies and insects, 

 and readily learns to take them from the hand. This should be the first step 

 towards his regular course of training, when training is desired. In their wild state, 

 the regular food is rice, various kinds of insects, and different varieties of seeds. 



They are largely exported to the various European countries, where of late years 

 they have become great favorites. In some of the zoological gardens, notably at 

 Antwerp, they are bred with great success. At Havre and Paris immense numbers 

 of them are sold yearly. 



A great deal of fault has been found by the lovers of these birds, owing to the 

 change of color which they undergo while moulting. If care is not exercised dur- 

 ing the moulting period, the bright dress is apt to become a dull orange hue. If 

 the bird is given plenty of room, and a daily bath, and all the sunlight that cau be 

 possibly procured, he will come out as brilliant as though he moulted in his wild 

 state. Sunlight is the chief requisite in moulting birds of a natural bright plumage ; 

 and, when plenty of it is given, there need be no fear of their losing any of their 

 gay colors. 



The Nonpareil has been mated with the Canary ; and although this species of 

 Hybrid-breeding has been rarely attempted, no doubt if the same attention was paid 

 to this kind of cross-breeding that is given the regular Goldfinch-Canary cross, the 

 result would more than repay one for the trouble. The Nonpareil will live in con- 

 finement about ten years, and should be fed, when caged, on plain canary-seed, 

 or plain canary-seed mixed in equal proportions with millet-seed. The daily bath 

 should never be neglected, as it seems to be a special necessity with him. His dis- 

 eases are few, constipation being the chief : although a seed-eating bird, he should 

 be fed insects and worms as regular as the soft-food birds ; when this is done, he 

 keeps remarkably free from disease, and will live many years. 



