CAGE BIRDS 183 



to the health and condition of the captive. A few species 

 are better for a little soft food, and many relish insects, 

 fruit and berries. All require green food, which should be 

 given freely, so long as it is fresh and crisp. 



Occasional specimens of many species are offered by 

 our dealers at various times, but it is impossible to include 

 all of them here. Nor is it feasible to attempt to enumerate 

 them in their proper systematic order. For purposes of ex- 

 pediency, therefore, it seems best to consider them, for once, 

 in the groups to which the " trade " assigns them. 



As most of our birds reach us from Europe, it is not 

 strange that the finches of that country should be imported 

 in large numbers. Of these, the Goldfinch (Carduelis 

 carduelis) certainly is the most brilliantly colored. It is 

 brownish above, with bright red face and black nape, a white 

 half collar dividing the two colors. The greater coverts 

 and the bases of the black white-tipped, flights are yellow. 

 The tail is black and the underparts whitish tinged with 

 brown. The female is usually smaller and duller, and has 

 the red blaze much restricted. The Goldfinch has a wild, 

 sweet song, which it gives freely once it has become accus- 

 tomed to cage life. When first caged, it is inclined to be 

 very wild and nervous, but quickly becomes tame. Gold- 

 finches require a liberal supply of thistle, poppy and similar 

 seeds, in addition to their regular diet. 



The Linnet (Acanthis cannabina) is probably the finest 

 singer among the European finches, its notes being particu- 

 larly rich and well modulated. The adult bird is a rich 

 brown, heavily striped with a darker shade. In the male the 

 crown and breast are tinged with crimson, which disappears 

 at the first molt in captivity. Young birds, which are some- 

 what more grayish and lack the crimson, are known as 

 Gray Linnets. The Linnet is generally steadier as a cage 

 bird than the Goldfinch, quickly becoming very tame. It is 



