CONTENTS. 



INTKODUCTIOK 



PAOI 



SUCTION 1. OF CAGE-BIRDS IN GENERAL. What the Author under- 

 stands the term " Stubenv'dgel," to mean. Importance of being 

 able to distinguish between male and female, varieties of colour, 

 &c. Number of species comparatively small. . . . . . . 1 



SECTION 2. VOICE AND SONG OF BIRDS. Peculiarity and variety 

 of vocal endowments. Powerof expressing passions and emotions, 

 exciting attention, &c. Cries imitated by fowlers. Wild Birds 

 and tame, different means of exciting them to sing. Each 

 species a distinct language. What is a song, and what a call : 

 instances, Chaffinch and Raven. Song generally a prerogative 

 of the males. Natural and artificial songs. How the latter are 

 acquired. Classification of songs. Periods of song. Recording 

 but an exercise of the organs. Why one Bird sings better than 

 another. Remark of BARRINGTON'S. How to improve the song 

 of Wild Birds. BRODERIP on the Melody of Birds. COLONEL 

 MONTAGUE, RENNIE, SYME: BARRINGTON'S Table on com- 

 parative merits of British Song Birds. MACOILLIVRAY'S de- 

 scription of structure of vocal organs. Superiority ascribed by 

 some authors to greater degree of nervous energy. Song of the 

 Nightingale written. Melody of Birds not to be described, &c. 1 



SECTION 3. HABITATION AND GENERAL TREATMENT. . Space re- 

 quired by different species. Modified amount of liberty. 

 Cleanliness essential. When and how to clean cages, feet, &c, 

 Method of taming Birds. How to make them sing . . . 12 



