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CHAPTER XL. 



MISCELLANEOUS BRITISH BIRDS. 



The Waxwing is a. winter visitor to tliese islands, sometimes appearing singly, and at others 

 in flocks. The name is derived from the waxlike appearance of the white ends of the secondary 

 wing-feathers, and a small tip or appendage to the shafts of some of those leathers, which has 

 been likened to red coral or sealing-wax. It is a very handsome bird, about the size of a Red- 

 wing, having a reddish-grey crest on the head, which can be raised or lowered at pleasure ; this 

 colour is almost uniform upon the body. The wings are black, barred with white and yellow, 

 and the tail is black, tipped with yellow. It is easily tamed, and in the aviary is docile 

 and quiet. It should be fed upon German paste, ground oats, "fig-dust" made into a stiff 

 paste, a little hard-boiled egg, and some soft-skinned fruit ; otherwise it would thrive well on 

 the Blackcap's food. 



The Golden Oriole is unfortunately a very scarce bird in this country, only occasionally 

 crossing from the Continent. It is one of the handsomest birds that visit us, being of a bright 

 lemon-yellow with black wings, as are also the two middle feathers and the base of its tail- 

 Though it has not much natural song, its very handsome plumage accords it a very prominent 

 position in the aviary, or it may be kept caged, and should be fed and treated as recommended 

 for the Blackcap. 



The Spotted Flycatcher is one of the most familiar of British birds, often choosing 

 some briar, vine, or other tree that may be trained against a house or wall, in which to build 

 its nest. It is also known as the Beam-bird, from a habit of sometimes building on the end 

 of a projecting beam. It is an interesting bird when feeding, as it generally selects a post or 

 rail, or the end of a bough, from whence it watches for insects, which are pursued and captured 

 on the wing with the greatest ease, the bird invariably returning to its perch to watch for more 

 prey. The song is very limited. 



From the nature of their food and habits, the Flycatchers are very difficult indeed to keep 

 in confinement. We would advise that they be fed and treated as the Golden-crested Wren. 



The Pied Flycatcher is not so common a bird as the Spotted, being found more 

 generally towards the north of England, and particularly the Lake districts, where it breeds 

 in the holes of decayed oaks and pollards. This bird is, however, much more easily kept in 

 confinement, and may be caged or placed in the aviaiy, especially with Warblers, as it should 

 be fed and treated as recommended for the Nightingale. It is a very striking bird, its plumage 

 being strongly marked black and white. 



The Cuckoo in confinement seldom, if ever, gives out the note by which it is known 

 so well when wild, and is not very frequently caged. For the following particulars we are 



