190 THE ART OF TRAINIXG ANIMALS. 



CHAPTER XXII. 



SOXG BIRDS — THEIR MANAGEMENT AND TIHTION. 



WHAT is called the song of birds is always expressive either 

 of love or happiness ; thus the nightingale sings only dur» 

 ing the pairing season, and the period of iucubationj and becomes 

 silent as soon as required to feed its young ; while on the con- 

 trary the canary and others sing except when dejected by molt- 

 ing. The males are usually the best singers, in fact the females 

 of several varieties have hardly what could be called a song. 

 Female canaries, bullfinches, robins, aiid some others may be 

 made to sing to a considerable extent by keeping them in cages 

 by themselves and paying attention to their food and manage- 

 ment. All bu'ds should be kept clean, their cages washed out 

 often enough to prevent the accumulation of filth, a supply of 

 sea or river sand furnished, and also fresh water for bathing and 

 drinking. The food of each species varies, but the following 

 will be found adapted to nearly all cage birds : 



" Universal Pastes." — Number One. — Thoroughly soak in 

 cold water a well baked stale loaf of wheaten bread ; press %he 

 water out and pour milk over the bread, sufficient to moisten 

 thoroughly ; then mix with it two-thirds of its own weight of 

 barley or wheat meal, ground fine and sifted. 



NumJjcr Two. — Grate a carrot and mix it with a moderate 

 sized slice of bread which has been thoroughly soaked in water 

 and the water carefully pressed out. While mixing add two 

 handfuls of the above mentioned barely or wheat meal. The 

 whole is then to be pounded in a mortar. 



The above quantities are sufficient for quite a number of 

 birds and must be reduced to suit requirements, as no more than 

 one day's supply should be prepai*ed at one time. Careful wash- 

 ing of all utensils employed is of course essential to prevent 

 sourness. Canaries should be furnished with a mixture of 

 canary, summer rape, and crushed hemp seed. Goldfinches 

 like poppy seed, with the addition occasionally of a little crushed 

 hemp seed. They also eat thistle seed. Linnets and bullfinches 

 rape seed alone. A little green food, as chick-weed, lettuce-, 

 cabbage or water-cress, is desirable about once a week. Quails 

 are fond of bread crumbs and wheat. Larks prefer barley meal 

 mixed with finely cut cabbage, or poppy seed and crumbs of 

 bread, and oats in winter. 



Varying the food of song birds has a tendency to make them 

 sing. The very common practice of giving pet birds cake, 



