SONG BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



us it prefers black forests situated upon mountains ; 

 while in England, Mr. Knapp tells us, it keeps 

 generally in open fields and commons, heaths and 

 unfrequented places, being of a wild and wary 

 nature, and only approaches our plantations and 

 shrubberies in severe weather and in breeding- 

 time. It begins to breed, he says, in April. 



These birds will feed in confinement upon plain 

 oatmeal, or even bran moistened with water. But 

 although this meagre diet is sufficient to keep it 

 alive, it will hardly serve to enliven it and make it 

 sing : for this purpose it must be better fed, with 

 bread and milk, meat, and other dishes served 

 at table, none of which it refuses ; and it must 

 also be allowed to bathe, since nothing does it more 

 good, or enlivens it so much. The cage in which 

 it is confined must be at least three feet and a half 

 long, and nearly as many high : a size necessary for 

 it to take the exercise suited to its vivacity and 

 petulance, without injuring its feathers.* 



Bechstein. 



