208 CAXAJtTES AND 



MAY JUNE. 



Plenty of fresh air is as beneficial to the feathered tribes as to people ; and 

 those having regular bird-rooms, where twenty-five or more birds are kept, know how 

 important it is that the ventilation be as perfect as possible. Good ventilation 

 should be secured for five birds, or even one ; but draughts should be carefully 

 guarded against. At this season of the year a sort of frenzy seizes us to get out 

 of doors, and roam in the fields ; to throw ourselves on the ground beneath a tree, 

 and kt enjoy nature." We recline on the ground; and afterwards for the next 

 forty-eight hours we enjoy nature too fully, as many of the most natural aches and 

 pains seize us .in consequence of the indiscretion. In the same way, when the first 

 clear, warm ^spring days come, we hang the bird outside of the window, regardless 

 of how hot the sun shines, or how chill the wind blows, and are surprised that on 

 the next day the bird's plumage is all ruftled, and, afterwards, that he has a fit of 

 sickness which, perhaps, terminates fatally. 



Male Canaries, that have not been mated, are apt to act dull, and to sit stupidly 

 on the perch, and refuse to eat much or to sing any. This is generally the case 

 where onty one bird is kept. If possible hang another singer near him, to cheer 

 him up ; change his location, giving him considerable sunshine ; let him have, each 

 day, some morsels of fresh green stuff, or a small portion of egg, and thus tempt 

 his appetite. If these things fail to arouse his spirits, it is better to get a mate for 

 him than to lose him. The pair may be mated, but it is not necessary to furnish a 

 nest. Young Canaries or Mules may be kept tame by teaching them, when they 

 commence to help themselves to food, to eat from the hand. It is a very simple 

 matter then to teach them to draw up the food in a thimble, to feign death, to fly 

 away and return to the finger, to climb the ladder of fingers, and to do other tricks 

 of a similar nature. In the earlier lessons it will be necessary to appeal to the 

 bird's want of food, but after he has learned a few tricks he will give close atten- 

 tion at any time. Birds under instruction of tins kind learn more readily if kept 

 where they do not see any other birds. Reward each step of progress in learning 

 with one or two hemp-seeds. 



Our native wild birds that live on seed usually require a mixture of two-thirds 

 canary-seed and one third millet. This mixture is the proper food for Nonpareils, 

 Bobolinks, Linnets, Indigo-birds, and Rose-breast Grosbeaks : the Yellow-bird, or 

 Goldfinch, should have maw or poppy seed in addition to the other two seeds. 



These wild birds, when first caged, should be kept in a quiet place, and watched 

 to see that they find the seed and water dishes ; as it sometimes happens they are so 

 timid as to constantly flutter about, and, not finding seed or water, die of thirst or 

 hunger. 



For the Grosbeak, the proper cage should be eighteen to twenty-four inches 

 long ; for the other birds mentioned above, the cage should be twelve to twenty 

 inches. 



While all of these birds are very timid when first caught, after three or four 

 days some commence to sing ; and in four to six weeks any one of them will take 

 food from the hand. They should hang seven or eight feet from the floor. 



Young Mocking-birds should be carefully guarded against the ravages of the 



