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British Cage Birds. 



When first caught the birds are wild and intractable, and 

 should be kept in small cages, singly, in a quiet place, where 

 they can get sufficient light to see to feed. A piece of 

 bread, soaked in milk, and mixed with a small quantity of 

 crushed hemp seed, will generally induce them to eat, and 

 it is an excellent plan to place a Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Green- 

 finch, or Goldfinch, that has been previously tamed, in close 

 proximity to them, and in such a position as to enable 

 the birds to see each other. By this means they become 

 more reconciled, and are sooner tamed, than when left alone. 

 If they dash about much, the cages should be partly covered 

 for a few days, and the coverings removed gradually. The 

 best place to hang the cages (when convenient) is at the side 

 of a window looking on to a busy thoroughfare, or into the 

 main street. The traffic and foot passengers, moving to and 

 fro, divert their attention, and accustom them to domestic life. 



When first caught, the food and water ought to be placed 

 inside the cages. Bird-catchers usually "flight" all newly- 

 caught birds, putting one or two tame birds of the same 

 variety or species among them. When of the Finch family, 

 they introduce a hen Chaffinch, or Greenfinch, or Linnet, to 

 make them more reconciled, and to induce them to partake 

 of food and water more readily by observing the tame birds 

 feed. By flighting the birds " is meant that they are 

 turned loose in numbers into a large cage or aviary, where 

 they can fly wildly about, and thereby thoroughly exhaust 

 themselves. It is not, however, a commendable plan to adopt, 

 as the birds frequently beat out a lot of their feathers 

 and otherwise disfigure themselves. 



Eeaeing the Young. — Those who wish to rear the young 

 of these birds should take them at the age of ten or twelve 

 days. They should at first be placed, with the nest, in a 

 small basket or box, and when about to leave it should be 

 transferred to a box cage, made with the top to open as a 

 lid, so that they can be got at conveniently ; or the door 

 may be arranged at the back or side of the box if preferred 

 — it is not material. Keep them warm, especially during 

 the night, and feed them every two hours from 6 a.m. 

 to 7 p.m. Prepare the food for them in the same manner 

 as recommended for Goldfinches, and treat them similarly ; 

 or they may be fed on soaked bread, scalded rape seed, and 



