FOOD AND CARE. 267 



His attempts to imitate these birds gradually enlarges his windpipe, and 

 repeated efforts finally enable him to utter their notes. 



While the English Nightingale and the English Lark are preferred as instructors, 

 since of all birds they have the greatest range of notes, the scarcity of good song- 

 sters has brought the Virginian Nightingale, as master singer, into very general 

 use. 



It is, perhaps, unnecessary to state, that he performs the duties of the position 

 well. In a class of six male Canaries, selected at random, and placed under his 

 tuition, four at least will show well-cultivated voices ; and if the Canaries, during 

 the months of instruction, are kept each in a cage by himself, every one will be a 

 good singer. 



The seed given young Canaries while they are learning their songs makes a great 

 difference with the tones of voice. 



If only the plain rape is given, the voice will be soft and sweet ; and this will be 

 the case if some millet-seed is mixed with the rape : but canary-seed makes the 

 voice louder and harder ; the larger the proportion of canary-seed given, the 

 shriller the voice. A small quantity of hemp-seed may be crushed and given daily. 

 After a bird's voice has been trained, and the style of song is fixed, he may be 

 fed on the regular mixed seeds, one-third each of canary, rape, and millet. 



Green stuff, like lettuce, chickweed, or apple, should be given young birds three 

 or four times a week ; and, of course, there should be an abundance of coarse gravel 

 furnished, and the usual opportunities daily for water and sun baths. Young Mule- 

 birds, if it is desired they should retain the characteristics of the father bird's song, 

 should hear the song of the same kind of bird only. 



Thus, Goldfinch Mules should hear only a Goldfinch, and Bobolink Mules 

 should hear only a Bobolink's jingle. Young birds, in the flight-cage, may be 

 healthy and strong, and occasionally take naps during the day ; but generally they 

 are lively, flying about a great deal. If a bird sits moping, with his feathers all 

 puffed out, catch him ; and if he is in thin condition, and there seems to be inflamma- 

 tion of the abdomen, it is certain his digestion is bad ; either sour egg, or else stale 

 green stuff, has been eaten. Drop two or three drops of castor-oil into his mouth, 

 or remove the water-cup an hour or two, and return it with a goodly supply of cod- 

 liver oil on the water's surface. Either remedy generally effects a cure. 



Most diseases of young birds arise from indigestion, and inflammation of the 

 bowels ; and if the breeder watches for these diseases, and treats them promptly, 

 he need have little fear of losses. 



Careful attention to dieting, and keeping the invalids near the fire, will do as 

 much as any thing to restore health. Heat is .indispensable, and it is astonishing to 

 what an extent sick birds are benefited by it. 



When the young birds are about two months old, they commence the first moult, 

 shedding only the body- feathers. The moulting is a natural process, and is not 

 attended with any danger to the birds if reasonable care is given to them. During 

 moulting they are, to a greater or less extent, deprived of a protecting covering, 

 and, in consequence, should not be exposed to draughts : they ought also to have 

 daily a little soft food egg and cracker with some cayenne pepper mixed in it. 



