4 INTRODUCTION. 



their food when set at liberty, and must perish of hunger, or 

 at least die in the winter. 



The same remarks are applicable to a work published by 

 IV I. Gambory at Copenhagen, in the year 1800. 



I think, indeed, it is better to be contented with possessing 

 in our houses artificial songs than to take so much trouble to 

 alter and spoil the very delightful music of nature*. 



HABITATIONS OF TAME BIRDS. 



THK space assigned to tame birds varies according to their 

 nature and destination. All are less at ease in a cage than 

 when at liberty in a room, where young pine branches, cut in 

 winter or early in spring, should be placed for their accommoda- 

 tion K Several, however, never sing unless confined within 

 narrow limits, being obliged, as it would appear, to solace 

 thrmselves, f<>v the \vant of liberty, with their song; conse- 

 quently, birds only prized for the beauty of their plumage or 

 their pleasing actions, are best placed in a room. Rather large 

 birds, such as thrushes, should have a room appropriated to 

 them, or be kept in a large aviary, as they give a very un- 

 pleasant smell to the place which they occupy, unless carefully 

 cleaned ; but their young ones may be allowed the range of 

 anv apartment, placing in a corner a cage or branch to rest and 

 sh vp i .n. where they may inn and hop freely, seeking a roost- 

 intr-place for themselves in the evening, on the fir branches 

 I -laced for that purpose ; or in a cage with several divisions, 

 into which they soon learn to retire. Some birds, such as the 



Besides, we cannot say that there is a want of variety in this music. I may 



again quote Mr. Harington (Phil. Trans.): " The death of the male parent, just 



at the limf his instructions \w-re required, will occasion some variety in the song 



*f the young ones, who will thus hiive their attention directed to oth^r birds, which 



they will imitate or modify according to the conformation of the'r larynx; and 



they will thus create new variations, which will afterwards be imitated by their 



young ones, and become hereditary, until a circumstance of a similar nature may 



.'> greater variations. If care was taken there need not be two birds that 



mug exactly alike: ho^ov-r. thrso varieties are confined within certain limits." 



M-oh. 



t If pine and fir branches cannot (>< obtained, oak, elm, or beech will do, cut ir. 

 intiT ; though not Rn-.-n, \.-t there will be leave*. TRANSLATOR. 



