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British Cage Birds, 



Points to be Observed in Judging. — The best birds to 

 select for the purpose of exhibiting are those of two or three 

 years of age, as they are then in splendid plumage. Choose 

 one that is brilliant in colour and well-defined in its markings. 

 It must be in prime condition : the body feathers fine, and 

 fitting to the body like a wax model ; the wing and tail 

 feathers must be in perfect order — none broken, chafed, or 

 cramped. The specimen should be robust and vigorous, but 

 withal steady and tractable whilst being handled, and free 

 from dirt. 



General Remarks. — Yellow Buntings are so common as 

 to be of very little intrinsic value, and may be bought from 

 birdcatchers for Is. a pair ; hence, few people care to keep 

 them in cages. They are more frequently kept as aviary 

 birds, but are so shy that they endeavour to keep out of 

 sight as much as possible, and get behind rock work or bushes 

 when strangers approach ; it is a long time before they get over 

 this propensity. As they get old they become yellower and 

 paler in colour. White and pied specimens of this variety 

 have occasionally been met with. 



Diseases and their Treatment. — When Yellow Buntings 

 are suffering from the moulting sickness, a few worms cut 

 in small pieces, or a piece of raw beef, freed from fat and 

 sinew, chopped fine, and mixed with moistened oatmeal, or a 

 few ants' eggs, will usually revive them. When delicate and 

 ailing, nothing is more exhilarating than to hang them in 

 the sun, out of doors, in a sheltered place, for a few hours ; 

 this, of course, refers to those birds which are kept in 

 cages or indoor aviaries, but they moult best in large out- 

 of-door aviaries. Like most of their tribe, they generally 

 die of decline, for which there is no cure. 



