SEEDS AND FOODS, liECIPES, DISEASES, MEDICINES. 2 



SEEDS AND FOODS, RECIPES, DISEASES, MEDICINES. 



THE foods suitable for the different birds have been fully enumerated under the 

 different subjects, but there are other varieties of birds which have not been treated 

 on ; and it is for the purpose of indicating the proper food for them, and for the 

 purpose of referring more particularly to the best seeds, and mixtures of the foods, 

 which have been heretofore mentioned, that the following article has been written. 



The chief consideration, in deciding upon the proper food for the various species 

 of cage-birds, is, to select that which most closely corresponds to their natural diet. 

 In the case of trapped birds, the proper selection must be made with great care : 

 for, if such birds are not sufficiently nourished, a considerable loss of life is sure to 

 follow. 



There are birds, it is true, which, as soon as taken from the trap, will eat without 

 hesitation almost any thing that is given them : these include the hardier class 

 of birds, among them the Mocking-bird, Thrush, Skylark, Chaffinch. Others, how- 

 ever, are more delicate, and at first, partly from grief, and partly from want of their 

 natural fare, will eat nothing. It is a bad sign if such birds as are accounted 

 delicate begin to eat greedily as soon as put into the cage ; as it is thought to 

 indicate an unnatural indifference at the loss of freedom, which can only proceed 

 from disease. If, on the contrary, they sulkily hide themselves in a corner for 

 some hours, there is little need to be anxious about them ; as, when the sulky fit is 

 allowed to wear off, they usually begin to eat in a natural manner. All birds may 

 be classified generally into two divisions, the hard billed and the soft billed. 



The first class consists of those birds which live on seeds, and the second those 

 which live on soft foods and insects. The first class., such as Canaries, Goldfinches. 

 Linnets, and Bullfinches, eat seeds only. The soft-billed class may be subdivided, 

 and includes birds which eat seeds, soft food, and insects, as Larks of all kinds. 

 Quails, Yellow-hammers, etc. ; birds which eat soft food and insects, as Nightingales. 

 Mocking-birds, Thrushes, Blackcaps, etc. ; and birds which subsist on insects only, 

 such as Wagtails, Blue-throated Warblers, and many of the varieties of very small 

 soft- billed birds. These last are the most difficult to rear, and keep in health ; and 

 since, as a rule, their songs are not remarkable for length or pleasing notes, they by 

 no means repay the trouble which must be expended in keeping them. Usually, 

 however, when plenty of live insects are mixed with the Mocking-bird food, such 

 birds may be kept in health for a considerable length of time. 



In all classes of cage-birds, it is necessary to change the diet as often as possible. 

 and at the same time to feed only plain fare, reserving t*he dainties for odd times. 

 or when the health of the bird depends on them. The principal foods used in 

 feeding the hard-billed class of birds are seeds, green food, and fruits. 



