CHAPTER IV. 



Breeding and Management. 



Very few of the different species of British birds breed in 

 confinement, and those that do belong almost exclusively to 

 the Finch family. Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches, Linnets 

 and Siskins will breed freely in properly constructed cages (see 

 Fig. 6) in a room, if they have been hand-reared or obtained 

 before their first moult. The nest box shown in Fig. 13, 

 should in all cases be used, and will be found satisfactory. 



The whole of the birds mentioned will rear their young 

 on hard-boiled eggs mixed with an equal quantity of white 

 bread, about two or three days old. Chop the egg fine, 

 and rub the bread into fine crumbs between the hands, or 

 pass it through the egg grater (see Fig. 18), which is more 

 satisfactory and a great saving of time ; the egg and bread 

 crumbs must be well mixed together. The birds must be kept 

 supplied with good canary and the best German rape seed, in 

 the proportions of two parts of the former to one of the latter ; 

 and green food, such as watercress, dandelion leaves, groundsel, 

 chickweed, or young lettuce, should be given to them fresh 

 daily at each feeding, and twice a week about a tablespoonful 

 to each pair of birds of the following mixture of other seeds, 

 as a change of diet ; Groats, three parts ; linseed, two parts : 

 hemp seed, inga seed, and maw seed, each one part. Mix 

 these well together by shaking them up in a wide-mouthed 

 bottle or tin canister. 



Greenfinches and Bullfinches are the best feeders. Where 

 possible, it is as well to make use of the first-named as 

 nurses for any birds of the Finch tribe, and they will also 



