CHAPTER VI. 



TO TEACH YOUNG BIRDS TO SING. 



Gjl t a fortnight old, the male may be dis- 

 C7 tinguished from the female by the more 

 connected character of his song. If a young 

 bird is to be taught to whistle, it should 

 now be separated from its comrades and 

 confined in a small wire cage, which should 

 be covered, at first, with a linen cloth, and 

 afterwards with some thicker material. A 

 short air should then be whistled, or played 

 on a flute or bird-organ, within his hearing 

 five or six times a day, and repeated on 

 each occasion half a dozen times. " My idea 

 is to play to them while they are at their 

 breakfast, and after they have done eating 

 they are always then much more disposed 

 to listen. After the bath, again, there is a 

 grand twittering time, while they are plum- 



