The Goldfinch in Captivity 63 



derstand their ways. He should begin with the seed-eaters, 

 but not at all unless he feels possessed of the necessary quali- 

 fications, and then if the mortality among them exceeds one 

 to a dozen in six months he should abandon further efforts, 

 for this indicates improper management. If successful he 

 is then entitled to try what aviculturists term the soft-bills, 

 though he is advised not to do so, for they require much 

 more care and must be constantly guarded against stale food, 

 which results in disease and death. We have plenty of sweet 

 singers among the seed-eaters, though the two most noted 

 vocalists of America and Europe belong to the other class, 

 namely, the mockingbird and nightingale. I have learned 

 that the best results are not attained by duplicating the food 

 eaten by a bird while in the wild state. For example, about 

 half the food of the Indigo Bunting is of an insect nature, 

 but in captivity he does better on an entire seed diet. While 

 at liberty the goldfinch thrives on sunflower seeds of both the 

 wild and the smaller headed cultivated varieties, but in con- 

 finement it must be deprived of such food which is too fat- 

 tening where loss of liberty has curtailed the proper exer- 

 cise and causes several fatal diseases, of which, perhaps, apo- 

 plexy is the most common. To keep a caged goldfinch in 

 perfect health feed it the mixed German rape and Cicily 

 canary, and nothing else, except a cuttle-bone fastened to the 

 wires and gravel in the bottom of the cage. Change the 

 water and gravel paper daily and clean the perches twice a 

 week. See that the seed is free from dust and the cage dry 

 and kept in an even temperature away from draught, but 

 where the air is not impure. Each bird should have a square 

 foot of space and does best in a cage by itself. 



