3IO Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



Being delicate, it will require as much care and attention as are bestowed on that bird. A similar 

 cage should also be provided. They also thrive in an aviary. 



The usual time of arrival is the beginning of April, and of departure the months of September 

 and October, but we once saw one several days together as late as the latter end of December. 



The ailments and treatment are similar to those of the Nightingale. 



The Lesser Whitethroat. — This elegant little bird is well worth keeping, as it will become 

 very tame and attached to the person who feeds it. Its song also, though rather weak, is full of 

 variety and very pleasing. It is smaller in size than the preceding bird, being just over five inches 

 in length ; the plumage somewhat resembles that of the Blackcap, except that the head and neck 

 are of ash-grey instead of black. When wild its food greatly resembles that of the Whitethroat. 

 The Blackcap's diet will answer all its requirements. 



A small Nightingale's cage will be well adapted for it, or it may be kept in an aviary, to 

 which it will form an attractive addition. We should not omit to draw attention to its nest, which 

 is a delicately built fabric, consisting of bents of dried grasses and a little wool, lined with hairs, 

 the whole being dexterously clothed with spiders' webs. The usual ailments are as nearly as 

 possible those of the Nightingale, and should be so treated. 



The Garden Warbler. — This is another summer visitor, arriving in the beginning of May, 

 and departing again in August and September. Although rather a common bird, it is not very 

 generally known, on account. of its retiring disposition; and perhaps, also, from the fact that its 

 plumage is not very striking, it has often escaped notice. Its exceedingly fine song, however, 

 places it next the Blackcap as a songster, the notes being especially deep and flute-like, almost 

 rivalling those of the Blackbird in power, while the song will last for nearly half an hour almost 

 uninterruptedly ; it is somewhat irregular in time and tone, but is certainly very sweet. It is a 

 small bird, rather stouter built than a Blackcap, but not quite so long. It frequents gardens, 

 orchards, and woods, retiring from the latter in the autumn, and visiting the two former in quest 

 of fruit. The whole of the upper part of the body is olive-brown ; the wings and tail darker 

 brown, slightly edged with lighter brown ; the under part is grey, much paler on the throat and 

 belly, and tinged with pale reddish-grey on the breast ; the legs, toes, and claws lead-colour. The 

 female is scarcely distinguishable from the male — a little lighter colour on the back, and a more 

 uniformly brownish-grey on the under part, being the only difference. Its main food consists of 

 caterpillars and insects, as well as their larvae. In the summer they will be found in the gardens 

 feeding upon the currants and raspberries, or such-like soft-skinned fruit ; they are likewise very 

 fond of elderberries. 



Though generally avoiding observation, the Garden Warbler is not a wild bird, and will take 

 kindly to a cage, which should be of the Nightingale pattern. It will agree well with other birds, 

 especially those of its class. The Blackcap's food well suits this bird ; a little sopped sponge-cake 

 may be added, and, as with all the warblers, variety is a great feature in the treatment. This 

 attention alone may add several years to their life. All the longest-lived birds we have known 

 received very frequent changes of diet. If care be bestowed, this bird will not unfrequently sing, with 

 a very slight interval, during the whole of the year. Its ailments greatly resemble those of the 

 Blackcap, and should be treated accordingly. If the bird be found pining or ragged in its plumage, 

 a few green caterpillars, such as may be found on cabbages, should be daily administered. 



A correspondent informs us that he kept one from September, 1877, to May, 1878, which 

 stood the winter (which, it must be remembered, was a very mild one) without a fire. It was fed 



