328 



British Cage Birds. 



The parent birds are very attentive to their progeny, and keep 

 the nest scrupulously clean. They continue to feed the young 

 birds for a considerable time after they are able to fly, and like- 

 wise instruct them how to procure flies and insects, never leav- 

 ing them until they are fully competent to cater for themselves. 



Methods of Capture. — In severe weather, these birds may 

 be taken in traps or springs baited with maggots, which can be 

 obtained at any time from the yard of a horse slaughterer or 

 from a tannery. They may likewise be captured by the use of 

 limed twigs, which should be scattered over a cleared piece of 

 ground which they have been observed to frequent, and on 

 which mealworms or preserved flies have been placed. 



Food and Treatment. — In a natural state. Pied "Wagtails 

 exist on flies of various kinds, spiders, gnats, and aquatic insects 

 and their larvae. They may be frequently seen on newly- 

 ploughed land, picking up insects and grubs. In confinement, 

 they may be fed on mealworms, ants' eggs, wasp grub, and 

 insects of all kinds. They will thrive on the same food as 

 Nightingales and Whitethroats, and will eat bread and milk, 

 and also the Compounds No, 1 and No. 2 {vide pp. 189, 190), 

 mixed. 



A large shallow pan should be placed in the aviary, and 

 daily replenished with fresh water, as these birds like to wade 

 and bathe very much, and would, if possible, be almost con- 

 stantly in this element during hot weather. 



Rearing the Young, — The young should be taken when 

 twelve days old, and fed on boiled liver or mutton, chopped very 

 fine, mixed with white breadcrumbs, and moistened with water 

 to form a soft paste. If procurable, a few ants' eggs may with 

 advantage be mixed with it. When the young birds can peck, 

 give them a few mealworms and preserved flies every day, 

 and, as soon as they are seven weeks old, feed them the same 

 as adult birds. 



Distinguishing Marks of Cock and Hen. — The head and 

 neck of the hen bird is brown, whereas that of the cock is 

 black ; and, altogether, the females are paler and less decided in 

 hue. The white portions on the forehead, cheeks, and neck, in 

 the female are quite dingy, and the wing bordering is narrower 

 and greyer than that of the male. These remarks refer to 

 adult moulted specimens. 



Song. — The song of the Pied Wagtail is not by any 



