148 



British Cage Birds. 



of their kindred species. They may be taken by means of a 

 decoy and limed twigs, with the day net, the decoy bush, 

 or by finding out the places where they come to drink, and 

 placing limed twigs about. These birds are not in the least 

 suspicious or timid ; they answer readily to a call bird, 

 which may be either one of their own species or a Siskin. 

 They soon become reconciled to a cage or aviary, and do 

 not fret or repine after liberty, but cheerfully submit to 

 the change, and adapt themselves to their altered circum- 

 stances. 



Food and Teeatment. — Eedpolls in a wild state feed on 

 alder, birch, and elder berries, and charlock, thistle, and other 

 seeds ; they likewise eat button weed, groundsel, and plantain. 

 In confinement they will eat lin, canary, rape, inga, hemp and 

 maw seed ; in fact, they are not in the least dainty in this respect. 

 They will often eat seed which Canaries and Goldfinches 

 refuse and despise. 



Bearing the Young. — Redpolls are of so little value com- 

 mercially, that they may be bought in the autumn and 

 winter months for Is. 6d. per pair, and at a greatly reduced 

 price by taking a dozen together ; consequently, they are not 

 worth rearing from the nest, as they cannot be taught to 

 sing the songs of other birds. If, however, it is desired to 

 bring up the young by hand, they must be reared and 

 treated in all respects the same as Linnets. 



Distinguishing Maeks of Cock and Hen. — The hen is 

 about the same size as the male bird, but much less vivid in 

 colour, the poll being deep orange instead of red, and the 

 breast and rump warm reddish brown, in place of a deep 

 bright red. The brown feathers of the neck and back are 

 greyer, and less pleasing to the eye ; the black spot on the 

 throat is smaller, much paler, and not nearly so well-defined 

 in its outline ; the brown on the neck is paler, and more 

 dingy in colour; the breast is not so white, and is more spotted 

 with brown marks ; the stripes over the eyes are not so 

 distinct, the green sheen, which is so noticeable in a cock, 

 being scarcely observable in a hen. The black marks in front, 

 and at the sides, of the upper mandible, are not so deep 

 in colour and tone ; in fact, the difference in the sexes may 

 be known by the head markings alone. After moulting in 

 the house, the hen birds lose all trace of red, the poll 



