430 THE WHIN CH AT. 



The Whinchat, like the rest of its species, can with diffi- 

 culty be enticed to eat the food of the aviary. It must at 

 lirst be fed only with little beetles and flies. When it is once 

 accustomed to meal worms, it soon learns to take both ants' 

 eggs and the usual Nightingale's food. 



.Breeding. The nest is generally found among the grass, in 

 meadows and gardens. It is made of dry grass and moss, 

 lined with feathers and hair. The female lays five to seven, 

 beautiful light green eggs. Young birds that have been 

 reared with ants' eggs, are better to keep than old ones, and 

 become accustomed to the cage with much less difficulty. 



Mode of Taldng. When in spring any of these birds are 

 noticed in a meadow or ploughed field, take a few stakes, force 

 them into the ground, cover them with limed twigs, and then 

 drive the birds gently towards the spot. As they perch upon 

 anything that projects, they are thus easily taken. In sum- 

 mer they are caught in the cabbage fields by means of nooses, 

 spring traps, and limed twigs. If the noose be used, take a 

 stick about three feet long, cut it to a point, and slit it, to insert 

 crossways a piece of wood about three inches long. The noose 

 must be suspended one inch and a half above the cross, so that 

 when the bird perches there, it may be about breast high. The 

 limed twig should be about three feet long, forked at the top 

 for about four inches, and covered to the same extent with 

 birdlime. The spring traps are to be hung on stakes or cab- 

 bage plants. A sufficient quantity of such nooses, traps, and 

 twigs having been set in a line in a cabbage garden where 

 Whinchats nave been observed, about two or three paces apart, 

 let the bird-catcher go to the end of the garden, and drive 

 the birds gently before him. They will fly from one plant to 

 another, till at last they come to the trap. The bird-catcher 

 must then stand still a short time, till they run after the others, 

 enter the traps, and are caught. When the captives have been 

 released, the traps may be re-set, and the same process repeated 

 as often as desired. 



Attractive Qualities. This pretty bird, however lively and 

 cheerful when at liberty, is always quiet and melancholy in 

 the house. If allowed to run about, it only moves to procure 

 food, and resumes its place immediately, with its head sunk 

 upon its breast. Its song is pleasant, and has much in common 

 with that of the Goldfinch. Its best recommendation is, that 



