4 INTRODUCTION, 



But, independent of tliis, tlie warble of a sweet 

 song-bird is, in itself, very delightful ; — ^and, to 

 men of sedentary habits, confined to cities by pro- 

 fessional duties, and to their desks most part of 

 the day, we do not know a more innocent or more 

 agreeable recreation than the rearing and training 

 of these little feathered musicians. 



Though the British song-birds belong to six 

 different genera, viz. the Stare, Thrush, Lark, 

 Warbler, Finch, and Gross-beak, Willoughby has 

 very properly (at least in our opinion,) divided 

 them into two divisions, and distinguished them 

 by the terms. Hard and Soft-billed Birds. These 

 two divisions are well marked. The birds of the 

 first division differ considerably from those of the 

 second in their habits, in their food, and in the 

 melody of their songs. The soft-billed birds, in a 

 wild state, are shy and timid. With a few excep- 

 tions, they keep at a distance from man. They 

 construct their nests in retired situations, and 

 conceal them mth great ingenuity. Tlieir food, 

 in summer, consists of insects, \dz. earth-worms, 

 snails, slugs, spiders, earwigs, sklaters, or hog-lice, 

 flies, smooth caterpillars, ants, ant-eggs, centipedes, 

 &c. ; and in winter they eat wild berries, such as 

 \\ie berries of ivy, misletoe, privet, holly, haw- 



