332 Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



The one in our possession, which has been greatly admired, became exceedingly tame, eating 

 from the hand ; when offered food it would approach the bars of the cage and project its 

 marvellously prehensile tongue with great rapidity, and draw the proffered delicacy into its 

 mouth. 



It is always advisable to keep these birds separate from their own species, as they in- 

 variably fight, and will even kill one another, as we can unfortunately vouch from experience. 

 The young had better be placed in separate baskets when about a fortnight old, feeding as 

 recommended for the adult bird. They are moderately hardy birds, staying through the winter 

 in this country. The " laugh " of the Woodpecker is a very peculiar sound, somewhat startling 

 if heard unexpectedly. 



The Great Spotted Woodpecker is another handsome bird distributed locally in 

 England, but never in great numbers, wooded districts being obviously its favourite resorts. 

 The dominant colours in the plumage of this bird are black and white, with a pink patch on 

 the back of the head and on the under tail-coverts ; the female, however, is not possessed of 

 the patch upon the head. In habits it is like the preceding bird, feeding upon similar food, 

 and in confinement it should be fed and treated in every respect the same. 



The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, though considerably smaller, is rather similar in 

 plumage to the preceding bird, except that the whole of the top of the head is crimson, and 

 in the female white ; its habits and food are the same as the larger bird, and it should be 

 treated in the cage accordingly. 



The Wryneck is a summer visitor to these islands, of elegant form but plain plumage 

 in comparison with the handsome Woodpeckers. This bird is also known as the " Cuckoo's 

 mate," and " Snake Bird," which latter, as also its proper name, are derived from the eccentric 

 movements of its head and neck. The young are easily tamed if brought up from the nest, 

 but it is much more delicate than any of the Woodpeckers, and being a migratory bird will 

 require warmth in winter. It should be fed the same as those birds, and, not being of a 

 quarrelsome dispositioUj may be kept in the aviary, especially with Warblers. 



The Creeper is a very delicate bird, requiring great care and attention ; but it will 

 become very tame, and as it is of delicately tinted though modest plumage and diminutive 

 size, it makes a pretty addition to the aviary, where it should be fed and treated in every 

 respect as the Wren, not omitting the boxes with holes in, lined with moss or wool for the 

 sake of warmth. 



The Nuthatch is a very beautiful bird, and an especial favourite of ours, being one of 

 the most interesting in our aviary, where its incessant activity attracts every one's attention. 

 If given a nut it is very amusing to notice with what adroitness it fixes the nut into a crack 

 of the cork in order to break the shell more readily. When this is accomplished, however, the 

 Tits are always ready to pounce upon any stray morsels, sometimes indeed securing the whole 

 kernel. When wild this bird feeds upon almost every variety of nut, especially beechmast, as 

 also berries, seeds, and insects; and in confinement it should be fed upon nuts, cracked, scraped 

 beef and egg, German paste, soaked bread and hemp seed, as well as hemp-seed whole, and 

 beechmast whenever obtainable. 



