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British Cage Birds. 



a piece of roast lean meat, sliced very fipxe ; and as they 

 get older (six weeks and upwards), gradually accustom them 

 to the food recommended for adult birds kept in confinement. 

 Keep them warm and snug, and provide a constant supply 

 of fresh sand as soon as they can pick. When six weeks - 

 old, separate them, and place the males in cages by them- 

 selves. 



Distinguishing Marks of Cock and Hen. — The hens may 

 be readily distinguished from the cocks by their reddish 

 chestnut caps ; they are in most cases larger than the males. 

 The wings, back, and tail, are paler in colour than in the 

 adult male. The belly of the hen is reddish grey. 



The young males, however, are difficult to distinguish from 

 the females, except by an experienced person. They will 

 be found, on close examination, to be darker in the cap, 

 and slightly deeper in shade in the colour of the body and 

 other feathers. To be quite certain, pull out a few feathers 

 from the top of the head, when, in the case of males, the 

 new feathers will be produced quite black. 



Song. — The Blackcap is a superb songster, and by some 

 people considered equal to the Nightingale. It is not so, 

 however, as its voice is less voluminous in sound. The 

 bird does not enunciate its notes so perfectly or so tenderly ; 

 neither is its voice so mellow or plaintive, or of such 

 compass, as that of a prime specimen of the Motacilla luscinia, 

 and never displays the same amount of execution. The voice 

 of the Blackcap is, however, purer in tone than that of the 

 Nightingale, being exceedingly flute-like. Its song is well 

 connected, and the notes varied and pleasing. The Blackcap is a 

 great imitator, and frequently blends with its song the notes of 

 other birds, more especially those of the Song Thrush, Blackbird, 

 and Titlark. Young Blackcaps, reared by hand, and trained 

 under a good singing Nightingale, would probably sing the song 

 of that bird perfectly, as they are apt pupils, and appear to 

 possess retentive memories. The natural song of a superior 

 specimen of the Blackcap is very beautiful. 



The Blackcap possesses one important advantage over the 

 Nightingale, in that it will sing at all hours of the day, and 

 until the shadows of twilight are fast merging into darkness. 

 Again, it commences its song with the first soft rays of flickering 

 morning light, long before Sol has shone forth his glistening 



