26' INTRODUCTION. 



also recommended that such birds should be kept at first in 

 a dark room, and have their cages frequently covered with 

 green boughs or a cloth, to prevent their beating themselves 

 against the wires, or injuring their plumage. In these respects, 

 however, every bird requires a distinct treatment, the parti- 

 culars of which are best taught by experience. 



SWEET'S ACCOUNT OF THE GENUS SYLVIA. 



THE British species belonging to this interesting genus are 

 chiefly birds of passage, visiting this country in spring, and 

 leaving it again in autumn ; several of these are deservedly es- 

 teemed as the finest songsters of all the feathered race ; the 

 Nightingale, in particular, has the sweetest and most pleasing 

 note of any bird at present known. It has been generally sup- 

 posed that they are very difficult to preserve in confinement ; 

 but I have succeeded well in keeping several of the most inte- 

 resting species through several winters in perfect health, and 

 many of them are in full song all the winter ; and I have not the 

 least doubt but all the species might be kept without difficulty 

 in the way I have practised. 



They will succeed very well in a warm room in winter, or, if 

 convenient, any part of a hot-house would suit them admirably ; 

 but they require a little fresh air when the weather is mild. They 

 might be preserved in cages, either separately or several together, 

 or in a small aviary, where all the species might be intermixed. 

 In the latter manner mine are kept at present. The temperature 

 of the room where they are, ought never to be much below tem- 

 perate, though some of the kinds do not mind a slight frost. The 

 species that I have found suffer most from cold, are, S. Eubetra 

 (Whin-chat), S. Phcenicurus (Hedstart), and S.Hortensis (Greater 

 Pettichaps) ; the Nightingale (S. Luscinia) is not near so tender 

 as these ; S. Cinerea (Larger Whitethroat), S. Sylviella (Lesser 

 Whitethroat), and S. Atricapilla (Blackcap), scarcely seem to 

 mind the cold at all. 



In a wild state, the species of this genus feed almost entirely 

 on insects and fruit, but in confinement they may be taught to 

 feed on several other things; but the more insects they have 

 given them the better ; and I believe it is impossible to keep 

 them in perfect health without a frequent supply. The food 

 that I find agrees with them best for a constancy, is an equal pro- 

 portion of bruised hemp-seed and bread, mixed up in the follow- 

 ing manner : I first put some hemp- seed in a little pan, and pour 

 some boiling water on it ; then, with a stick flattened at the end, 

 I bruise it as fine as possible, and add the same quantity of soft 



