British Cage Birds. 



trees, and hedges are clad in snow, and the water-pools are 

 bound in ice, as it is both timid and cautious. At this time 

 it may be taken with horse-hair nooses, or traps baited with 

 berries (those of the mountain ash, or whitethorn) or meal- 

 worms. It may also be snared with limed twigs, if the lime 

 is fresh made and strong. Break the ice at the edge of a 

 pool or brook which the birds are accustomed to visit to 

 quench their thirst : about noon is a good time, or early in 

 the morning. Brush away the snow, and distribute provender 

 and some twigs about the opening you have made in the ice. 

 Do not go far away from the spot, nor for any lengthened 

 time, as these birds are strong, and will struggle and free 

 themselves from some of the limed sticks, and go off with 

 the one or two that remain attached to them. Blackbirds 

 may also be caught in a box trap, constructed on the principle 

 of an old-fashioned mouse trap, with a bridge inside, and a 

 sliding door, weighted with lead, at the end, which falls 

 suddenly when they ascend the bridge to partake of the food 

 placed thereon. The trap should be placed in a garden, on 

 a lawn, or near a hedge where the birds frequent. These 

 birds are very wary, and will probably not enter the trap for 

 a few days, until their suspicions become somewhat allayed, 

 and probably not then unless driven by hunger. 



Food and Treatment. — In a wild state, these birds feed 

 principally on insects of various kinds, worms, and fruit. When 

 these foods are scarce, they resort to berries, such as those 

 of the mistletoe and hawthorn ; and when very hungry, they 

 will eat the seeds of some of the wild plants, and oats. In 

 confinement, they may be fed on scraped carrot, soaked white 

 bread, and barley meal, made into a paste ; a little fresh raw 

 meat, such as beef or mutton, chopped very fine, and mixed 

 with bread rubbed into fine crumbs ; cheese grated, bruised 

 hemp seed, and bread crumbs, mixed together, and slightly 

 moistened, or the Compounds recommended in the Chapter on 

 '*The Starling." To keep these birds in robust health and song, 

 a few worms or grubs should be given occasionally as well. 



EEARiNa THE YouNG. — The young birds should be taken 

 at ten or twelve days old, the latter date for preference. 

 Remove the birds with the nest, and keep them in a small 

 covered basket or hamper, or, what is better, a properly con- 

 structed box, made for the purpose, wired in front, and 



