24 Birds I Have Kept. 



enthusiastic fanciers going so far as to distinguish some twenty 

 distinct varieties of song, or "melodies", such as the double 

 trill of the Hartz; the Brautigam, or bridegroom's, and the 

 Eeiterzong, or rider's song. 



The Chaffinch is quick at learning, and will repeat part 

 of the Canary's and even of the Nightingale's song, but is 

 always interpolating, often at the wrong point, its own sharp 

 note "pink, pink." It is a hardy bird, and providing it is 

 occasionally suppHed with flies and other insects, wUl live 

 for many years in the house : instances are given of its having 

 survived for eighteen or twenty years in a cage. 



The chief affections to which this bird is subject in a state 

 of captivity are the pip, an obstruction of the rump-gland, 

 from insufficient opportunities for bathing: this complication 

 wOI be readily diagnosed by the bird continually turning round 

 to peck itself just above the insertion of the tail feathers, when 

 the obstructed gland must be relieved by fomenting it with 

 hot water, piercing the little yellowish tumour with a fine 

 needle, and gently pressing out its contents of inspissated oil. 

 Diarrhsea is occasionally brought on by allowing the bird to 

 drink impure water, or to eat too much succulent green food, 

 such as rank chick weed: in which case a pinch of chalk, or 

 better still, of aromatic confection in its water will effect a 

 speedy cure. Should the diarrhaea, however, be a symptom 

 of consumption, induced by confining the bird to a poor diet, 

 the disease and its most prominent symptom may be relieved, 

 and often cured by a regimen of insects; but should the dis- 

 order have existed for any length of time, there is no cure, 

 the case is hopeless. 



