288 



British Cage Birds. 



brother, is best taken by placing a Whitethroat, in a cage, 

 on a piece of cleared ground, in a quiet spot where the birds 

 frequent, and scattering limed twigs and mealworms round 

 about. The Whitethroat calls these birds to the spot, when 

 they see the mealworms, and, in attempting to make a meal 

 of them, get attached to the limed twigs. 



Food and Teeatment. — These birds, in a wild state, eat the 

 same foods as the Greater Fauvette. In confinement, they 

 should be fed on the same diet as recommended for that 

 bird. The treatment in all respects should be the same. 



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

 age of nine or ten days, and treated and fed in the same 

 manner as young Nightingales {vide Chapter XXXVI., p. 261). 



Distinguishing Maeks of Cock and Hen. — The female is 

 smaller than the male, and the hues of her plumage are paler 

 and duller ; the markings above and below the eye are also 

 paler, and less conspicuous. 



Song. — The song of this bird is less powerful, and not so 

 well executed, as that of the larger variety, but is, never- 

 theless, pleasing, and capable of great variation, as this 

 species copies the notes of the various birds whose songs it 

 is accustomed to hear. 



Points to be Obseeved in Judging. — Size, contour, carriage ; 

 clearness and intensity in the colours of the plumage ; close 

 body feathering ; well-formed wings, tail, and claws ; condition 

 and cleanliness. One great point to be observed is a silvery 

 white breast ; and another, well-formed and distinct markings. 



Geneeal Remaeks. — The Lesser Fauvette is not an attrac- 

 tive bird so far as its external appearance is concerned. Like 

 the Nightingale, its beauty consists in its fine song. The 

 male birds sing very freely, and soon become docile and tract- 

 able. These birds should be kept in cages, as they then sing 

 much better than when in aviaries. 



Diseases and theie Teeatment. — See the remarks under 

 this heading in the preceding chapter, as they are equally 

 applicable to this variety. 



