3i6 Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



Though a great many of these birds never migrate, it is advisable to keep them under 

 constant supervision during the winter, as, from their dehcate nature, a sharp change of weather 

 may be fatal ; if any signs of ailing be apparent, at once move the bird to a moderately warm 

 room. If possible, it is perhaps more advisable to keep it where it will experience an equable 

 temperature, as under these conditions it will sing nearly the whole of the year, though, of 

 course, but weakly during the winter, and not at all while moulting, which generally occurs 

 in autumn. In all other respects treat as for a Nightingale. 



The Whinchat, though difficult to keep, repays all trouble by its handsome appearance 

 and sweet song. It was a very favourite bird with the late Mr. Sweet, who speaks of it as 

 the most interesting bird he possessed. It is lively and cheerful when at liberty, living on 

 heaths, commons, railway embankments, or amongst furze, retiring from these haunts in the 

 autumn, and visiting arable lands and cornfields, where it may be seen sitting on the sheaves 

 or hanging to the ears of corn, from which habit it is known in some districts by the 

 name of "Barleyear." It may often be found at that time of year in the fields of mangold 

 wurzel or between cabbage rows, searching for insects. When first placed in confinement it 

 is very difficult to induce the bird to partake of the ordinary food of the aviary, and it 

 requires, therefore, especial care and attention. It should be first enticed with gentles mixed 

 up with its food, or little beetles and flies ; then give it mealworms, and in time it will take 

 ants' eggs freely, as well as usual Nightingale's food. It should be kept as much as possible 

 in the open air, as in confinement with an artificial atmosphere it oftentimes becomes dull 

 and melancholy, losing its natural sprightliness, and with that its song, which has many 

 features in common with that of the Goldfinch, being cheerful and sweet. 



The Whinchat arrives in April, leaving again for a warmer climate in September; and, 

 unlike the Stonechat, it never stays through the winter in this country. It had better be 

 kept moderately warm during the winter, as any sudden severe frost may kill it ; and though 

 it may be possible to keep them without a fire, the risk would be great. 



In length it is about five inches ; the beak is black, and from its base to the eye and 

 round to the neck is a brown streak, over which runs a stripe of white, nearly meeting at 

 the back of the neck ; the whole of the upper part is brown, the centre of the feathers 

 darker brown, edged with a lighter shade ; the chin is white, which colour runs down the 

 sides of the throat to the shoulders ; the throat and breast a reddish-buff, lighter towards the 

 belly, which is pale buff ; the principal wing-feathers are black, those nearest the body white ; 

 the spurious quills white, edged with brown ; the pinion-feathers dark brown, edged with lighter 

 brown ; the tail white at the base, except the two centre feathers, which, together with the 

 rest of the tail, are brown, edged with lighter brown. 



The Wheatear is a very difficult bird to thoroughly tame if captured when of mature 

 age, and it is therefore advisable to rear it from the nest, or procure it while quite young. 

 It will, however, thrive in confinement, and its song seems to improve upon careful attention 

 to food and treatment. It should be kept in a Nightingale cage, and must be carefully 

 watched when first captured, or it will perhaps refuse food, and droop and die. After becoming 

 accustomed to artificial food it may be turned out into the aviary, but will seldom sing so 

 well there as in a cage. It has a pleasant song, sometimes perchance interspersed with a 

 peculiar sort of scream, but continued both by day and night in a connected way. It should 

 be provided with a plentiful supply of insects, none of which seem to come amiss. It is 



