2l6 



British Cage Birds. 



times a little grated cheese, breadcrumbs, and crushed hemp 

 seed, which makes them hearty and cheerful, and induces them 

 to sing with greater freedom. 



Bearing the Young. — Young birds intended to be hand- 

 reared, should be taken at the age of twelve days, certainly 

 before fourteen, and fed on bread and milk, given warm, 

 like children's ''sop"; they should be fed every two hours, 

 or oftener. When three weeks old, they should have a little 

 raw, lean, fresh meat, free from sinew — beef is best, but mutton 

 will do quite well, or even sheep's heart, or bullock's liver. 

 This should be finely shredded, mixed with an equal quantity 

 of breadcrumbs, and made into a soft paste with water. 

 This diet should be alternated with milk and bread, and 

 bruised hemp seed, freed from husks. When the birds are 

 able to pick for themselves, they may have, alternately, 

 the No. 2 and No. 3 Compounds recommended in the 

 Chapter on " The Starling." Treat them in all other 

 respects the same as young Blackbirds. When the nest 

 becomes fouled with their excrement, remove it, and substitute 

 some nice clean straw or hay, cut short, or a piece of nice 

 well-dried moss ; these materials should be placed in the 

 bottom of the box or cage, and their use should be continued 

 until the birds are able to perch properly, which will be 

 when they are from three weeks to a month old. 



Distinguishing Marks of Cock and Hen. — The sex of the 

 Song Thrush is rather difficult to distinguish, excepting by 

 an experienced person, as the male and female resemble each 

 other so much in colour, size, and shape. The back 

 of a male bird is darker and more glossy than that of the 

 female ; the dark markings on the throat are also better, 

 and more clearly, defined. The breast of the hen is much 

 paler in colour, and the spots on the throat and breast are 

 not nearly so bright and rich in hue as those on birds of the 

 opposite sex. The male is whiter on the belly and vent. 

 The tips on the wing coverts are smaller, and not so deep 

 in colour, in a hen as in a cock. The male bird stands more 

 erect, and is bolder and more defiant in his bearing and 

 general demeanour. In young Thrushes, select the sleekest 

 bird, with the brightest plumage. When the nestlings begin 

 to sing, the hen will record as well as the cock ; but, whilst 

 the male bird continues his song evenly and continuously. 



