Introductory. 



7 



frequent change of diet will be found most useful in pre- 

 serving birds in a bealtby condition ; and a little careful 

 attention and observation will enable anyone to discover what a 

 bird prefers most, and upon which food it thrives best. I may, 

 however, remark that birds greatly resemble human beings in 

 frequently choosing things which are not always most con- 

 ducive to their health and well-being; as, for instance, nearly 

 all seed-eating birds will prefer hemp seed to all other kinds : 

 and this seed has been repeatedly proved to be most injurious 

 to birds of all sorts which have been allowed to use it ad 

 libitum. Under the different headings, in treating of the 

 varieties of birds, I will point out the description of food 

 which has been found most suitable for them. 



