AUTHORS PKEPACE. Ill 



it frequents in order to find it, and when it has been found 

 and secured, a desire to know the best place to keep it in 

 follows as a matter of course. 



FOOD. In keeping tame birds it is most important to 

 know what food is best adapted to each species ; that is 

 to say, what approaches nearest to its natural aliment. 

 I have therefore divided the directions on this point into 

 two parts ; showing in the first the natural food of the 

 bird in its wild state, and in the second what is best for it 

 in confinement. 



BREEDING. Many birds succeed best when reared from 

 the nest, which makes it necessary to speak of their man- 

 ner of being hatched, and the like. 



DISEASES. Birds being very tender creatures, on pass- 

 ing from a state of liberty to slavery, in which they lose 

 the means of exercise and proper food, are soon afflicted 

 with many diseases occasioned by this change alone, with- 

 out reckoning others that naturally follow in their train. 

 Under this head I endeavour to point out these, and their 

 proper treatment ; but I confess that this is the most 

 imperfect part of my work, and I wish some clever expe- 

 rienced medical man would take the trouble to render it 

 more correct. 



CHASE. On going into the country a wish often arises 

 to procure a bird, and therefore under this head I havf 

 described the method of catching such species as may be 

 desired. 



