158 



British Cage Birds. 



a homestead, or rick yard, or just within a gate leading 

 to a field, scatter a few meal or small worms about, 

 or even breadcrumbs and hemp seed, and distribute 

 freely a number of well-limed twigs all round, and in the 

 adjacent neighbourhood, on some part of a hedge or bush, 

 near by, for the place chosen must be in close proximity 

 to a hedge which the birds frequent. Having completed 

 these operations, proceed to the far side of the field, and 

 drive the birds gently along in the direction of the bait. 

 They seldom make long flights. The cracking of a whip 

 is perhaps the best method to adopt when pursuing them, 

 but it should be done in a quiet way, for, if they are 

 eagerly chased, they will become wild and frightened. 

 As soon as they approach the ground where the lure is 

 laid, it is most discreet for the fowler to stroll away in 

 an opposite direction, and return to the spot in the 

 course of ten or fifteen minutes. The birds will fly down 

 to the food as soon as they see it, and become ensnared 

 instantly. In stormy weather, when provisions are scarce, 

 these birds may be taken by the box or brick trap, or by 

 the decoy bush or day net, in large quantities. The birds 

 keep together in pairs, seldom separating, so that as many 

 females as males are generally taken. 



Food and Treatment. — In a wild state, the Hedge Sparrow 

 feeds largely on small insects, worms, maggots, caterpillars, 

 flies, and spiders. When these are not obtainable, it has re- 

 course to elder berries, haws, and wild seeds of various kinds. 

 It is a bird that will eat almost anything, and, in the aviary, 

 will partake of whatever is to be found there. If kept in 

 a cage, one suitable for a Canary, Bullfinch, or Chaffinch 

 will do equally well for it. When kept in an outdoor 

 aviary, it prefers to perch as high as it can possibly get. 



Bearing the Young. — The young should be taken at the 

 age of ten days — not later — and fed with soaked white bread 

 and a little lean meat — beef or mutton, raw or cooked — 

 chopped very fine, and mixed well together : or they may be 

 fed with hard-boiled eggs, and bread chopped fine, mixed 

 with a small morsel of bullock's or sheep's heart, chopped 

 very fine. Do not cram them too much, or it will kill them. 

 When they are sixteen days old, a little crushed hemp seed, 

 freed from the husks, may be given as a substitute for the 



