14 IFTEODUCTION. 



Linnets, Bullfinches, and Canary-birds ; but in spring, or pairing 

 time, it is necessary to guard against taking birds so tamed 

 into the open air, where they are likely to hear the cry of 

 their wild comrades. This is the season during which they 

 most commonly relapse into their former wildness. 



A new and approved method of completely taming all kinds 

 of cage-birds, in the course of one or two hours, with which 

 I have only lately become acquainted, is the following : 



A portion larger, or smaller, in proportion to the wildness 

 of the bird is cut off from the inner plume of the pen feathers, 

 so that the bird cannot hurt itself if it attempts to leave the 

 hand, and the external appearance of the wing is not impaired. 

 The nostrils of the bird are then touched with bergamot, or any 

 other odorous oil, by which it is for a time so stupified, as to 

 perch quietly on the finger, or to hop from one finger to another. 

 It may indeed attempt to fly away once or twice ; but this is 

 not often repeated, especially if the experiment be tried in a 

 dark place as, for example, behind a curtain, which offers the 

 further advantage, that if the bird fall, it is not likely to hurt 

 itself. As soon as it sits quietly on any one finger, another 

 finger must be placed in such a position as to cause the bird to 

 step upon it ; and so soon as it is accustomed to hop quietly 

 from one finger to another, the main difficulty is overcome. 

 For if when the bird is gradually aroused from its state of stu- 

 pefaction, it perceives that its teacher does not use it roughly, 

 it may by degrees be taught to manifest perfect obedience to 

 his commands. To teach it to eat from its master's mouth, it 

 should be kept in the cage without food for some time. If it 

 be then taken upon the finger, and its favourite food be pre- 

 sented to it on the outstretched tongue, hunger will soon teach 

 it to feed. 



Birds tamed in this manner may easily be taught to sing, 

 while perched on the hand. To effect this, it is only necessary 

 to coax them by the appropriate tones, gestures, and caresses. 

 The Chaffinch may be made to sing by whistling Yach! yach! 

 and stroking it on the neck ; and the Bullfinch, by speaking 

 to it in a friendly manner, accompanied by a backward and 

 forward motion of the head. A considerable degree of perse- 

 verance is, however, in all cases, essential to the success of 

 this method of taming birds. 



