314 Canaries AiVd Cage-Birds. 



the food recommended for the young of that bird. Its diseases are also very similar to those 

 of the Nightingale, and should be treated accordingly ; it is, however, also subject to dysentery, 

 which may be traced by a chalky excrement which clings to the feathers beneath the tail. 

 This is of so acrid a nature that it causes a severe inflammation of the adjoining parts. 

 Clip these soiled feathers, and anoint the flesh with fresh unsalted butter ; also place a rusty 

 nail in its water, or scrape some chalk into it until it is thick ; keep the bird some time without 

 water until he is thirsty, then replace the chalky water, which should be recently stirred so 

 as to ensure his taking the chalk, which if allowed to stand will settle to the bottom. This 

 remedy may also be applied to the Nightingale or any of the warblers, should they be 

 attacked by this dangerous and troublesome disease. 



The Black Redstart, which is also known as the Blackstart, is a very elegant bird, 

 neatly shaped, and of pretty plumage. It is not a common bird, but is not so rare as 

 is generally supposed, as we have caught in past years about a dozen in the county of Sussex. 

 It visits this country in the winter, when most of the warblers have departed. It may be 

 distinguished from the Redstart by the sooty black on its breast and belly where the other 

 is red. Its wings are also barred with white, except the outer feathers, which are brown. 

 Its food and habits resemble those of the Redstart, except that it prefers stony ground or 

 chalk cliffs ; it will also be found in gardens or pig pounds ; it often visits farm-yards, and 

 may be seen on the heaps of manure placed out on the land. Care should be taken in 

 " meating off," and it should afterwards be provided with Nightingale's food, and otherwise 

 be treated in a similar manner. 



The Grey Redstart very nearly resembles the female of the Black Redstart. It is of 

 an entirely greyish ashen-brown, paler beneath, especially at the throat and belly ; the tail- 

 coverts are bright rusty red, which colour extends to the tail, except the two middle feathers, 

 which are ashen-brown. It certainly is not generally known as a British bird, but has often 

 come to our notice, having taken several in late years. In its habits it greatly resembles the 

 Black Redstart, and if successfully meated off we would recommend the ordinary Nightingale's 

 food. It would undoubtedly give its possessor great trouble, but would repay everything 

 by its rarity of plumage. 



The Hedge Accentor, which is known by the various names of Hedge Sparrow, Dunnock, 

 Hedge Warbler, and Shufflewing, is a frequenter, as its name denotes, of hawthorn hedges, 

 where it may be heard uttering its plaintive little song, which, though not of any great 

 variety, is very pretty, and may be heard almost all the year round. It builds very early 

 in the year, and its nest is therefore quite exposed in the leafless hedgerows, and it is sur- 

 prising that it continues so common a bird, considering that the school-boy is invariably used 

 to boast many a string of its delicately tinted light blHe eggs. It is also particularly liable 

 to the depredations of the Cuckoo, it being notorious that as many young Cuckoos are reared 

 by this little bird as by any other victim of that houseless robber. The manner in which 

 the young Cuckoo obtains sole possession of the nest is peculiar. The egg is deposited 

 in the nest by the shiftless Cuckoo, and is hatched by the Hedge Sparrow in blissful ignorance 

 of the enemy that has been insinuated into her otherwise happy family. The young Cuckoo 

 soon shows his superior strength, and having a peculiar hollow in its back, heaves the 

 unfortunate nestlings one by one out of their warm abode, they of course perishing, whilst 

 the unsuspicious parents continue their attentions to the murderer of their unfortunate offspring. 



