82 BIRDS 



with one of the commercial insecticides. The perches 

 should be wiped off with a rag dampened with kerosene 

 oil. If this treatment is repeated once or twice, at intervals 

 of a week, the pests will cease to trouble. 



Selecting Specimens 



In choosing birds many points are to be considered. A 

 person of small experience who desires a bird simply for 

 its song cannot do better than to decide on a Canary. Its 

 needs are simple and little knowledge is required to meet 

 them. If he is slightly more ambitious, one of the com- 

 moner European finches — a Goldfinch, Linnet or Siskin — 

 might be tried. They are the first step beyond the Canary. 

 The Bullfinch is a delightful pet and easily kept if properly 

 cared for. The small waxbills and grass finches have little 

 song, and some are inclined to be delicate, but their beauty 

 will compensate for the little trouble they make. 



The soft-billed birds entail somewhat more effort, but 

 many are almost as hardy as the finches. The Red-billed 

 Hill-tit (or "Japanese Robin"), the Shama Thrush, the 

 Song Thrush and the European Blackbird all are easily 

 kept, although the two latter are inclined to wildness unless 

 thoroughly tamed. 



More ambitious collections should not be attempted until 

 one has had some experience with a bird or two. If birds 

 are to be grouped, the greatest care must be exercised in 

 selecting the specimens to be kept together. The larger 

 weavers, troupials, certain thrushes and all parrots and 

 parrakeets are not to be trusted with smaller birds. Some 

 birds are notorious murderers and these will be mentioned 

 farther on. Ordinarily, experience must be the guide, for 

 individuals of ordinarily quiet species are sometimes the 

 yvorst offenders. It goes without saying that many birds 



