SWEET'S ACCOUNT OP THE GENUS SYLVIA. 27 



bread, which must also be braised up with it, so that the oily 

 milk from the seeds may be mixed with the bread, till it is of the 

 consistence of a moist paste : of this mixture they are all very 

 fond ; but it should be mixed up fresh every day, particularly in 

 summer, or the stale food will injure their health, and make them 

 dislike it altogether. I also give them a little boiled milk and 

 bread for a change, and some fresh raw meat cut in small pieces ; 

 some of the species like the fat best, but the greater part prefer 

 the lean. In winter, when insects are scarce, I occasionally treat 

 them to the yolk of an egg, boiled hard, and then crumbled 

 small ; this partly answers the purpose ; but it is a good plan to 

 have a stock of insects in store, to supply them with a few every 

 day, which keeps them in good health, and makes them sing more 

 melodiously. 



A supply of some sorts of insects is easily preserved for the 

 winter. The large species of Flies may be caught in great abun- 

 dance in autumn ; particularly the Musca tenax, which, at that 

 season, are very plentiful on the Dahlias, French and African 

 Mary golds, and other plants belonging to the Composites. Musca 

 vomitoria is also plentiful on the Ivy, when it is in flower ; of 

 these two species large quantities may be caught, and dried for 

 the winter ; they only require to be put loosely in a paper bag, 

 and to be hung up in a dry room, so that they do not get mouldy ; 

 when they are given to the birds, a little boiling water must bo 

 poured on them, which softens them ; and the birds are as fond 

 of them as if they were alive. The common maggots from de- 

 cayed meat might also be saved for them, in large quantities ; by 

 collecting them late in autumn, and putting them in a large pot, 

 or pan, in dry mould, and then keeping it in a cool, dry place, 

 will preserve them all the winter ; when a few may be given to 

 the birds as often as the stock will allow of it. If kept hi too 

 warm a place, they will turn quickly into the pupa state, and the 

 flies will soon come out of them, and by that means, the stock 

 will soon diminish ; though the birds like them as well, or better, 

 in the pupa state. 



Some fine gravel must also be kept continually in their cages ; 

 as the birds of this genus eat a great deal of it, and will not con- 

 tinue in good health without a constant supply. They are also 

 very fond of washing often ; so that a pan ot water, or something 

 large enough for them to get into, should be kept constantly at 

 the bottom of their cage. 



These birds, when in confinement, are very restless at the 

 seasons of their usual migration from one country to another ; 

 at the time that they are leaving this country in autumn, about 

 twice during the winter, and again when they are returning in 



