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British Cage Birds. 



but, if much disturbed, they will not infrequently leave the 

 orchard or garden where their first brood was reared, and 

 remove altogether out of the neighbourhood. They may 

 be kept either in aviaries or cages ; when in the former, 

 they take up a position near the seed-boxes, and rarely 

 permit other birds to approach when a fresh supply of 

 seed has been given until their appetites are fully satisfied. 

 They do not require a large cage when kept separately. The 

 ordinary canary cage will be found sufficient to meet all 

 their requirements. 



Hen birds that have been born in confinement are of little 

 use except as ''call birds," to be used for catching others 

 of the same species, or to place in an aviary with other 

 birds for variety. They do not breed in cages with the 

 freedom of male birds, and can seldom be induced to pair 

 with aliens. A pair of Goldfinches will breed in confinement 

 under favourable circumstances ; but, to be successful, they 

 ought in all cases to build their own nest. If a cage be used, 

 it ought to be one of large dimensions, and the back or top 

 should be so constructed as to open with hinges, so that 

 one or two plants of young hawthorns, shrubs or furzes, 

 could be introduced in large tree pots, to afford them 

 shelter and a place in which to build their nests. The 

 plants ought to be placed at one end of the cage, and close 

 to the wires in front, leaving plenty of room for the birds to 

 get to them from behind, and so thick that ample shelter will 

 be provided, as hen Goldfinches are very timid when breeding, 

 and do not like to be watched or disturbed during the process 

 of incubation, or whilst rearing their young. 



All the materials previously mentioned with which they 

 construct their nests should be supplied to them, placed in 

 an onion net, and hung against the wires of the cage, so 

 that they can get readily at them. Where possible, a small 

 garden aviary should be used in preference to a cage, and it 

 should be so arranged as to include a small tree or some 

 large plants for the purpose already mentioned, and made in 

 all respects as like a miniature garden as possible. Only one 

 pair of birds should be kept together, or they will in all 

 probability disagree, and interfere with each other, to their 

 detriment. The aviary should be so arranged that a division 

 can be made, in which the young birds could be placed by 



