43 ixiND C» INOrl^^U 1>111U». 
of cold. It is fond of fresli raw meat, botli fat and lean, and 
also the yolk of an eg-g ; the former should be scraped, and 
the latter chopped very fine, and mixed with some bread- 
crumbs, .or universal paste. Fruit of some kind or other 
should always be kept in the cage, 
THE WlilTETHROAT. 
This very lovely and attractive bird, which is sometimes 
called the whitethroated warbler, is considered by Sweet to 
possess powers of song equal to those of any other bird what- 
soever 5 we should not be inclined to estimate it so highly as 
this, although we have heard it " discourse" very delightful 
melody. Arriving in England about the middle of April, 
the whitethroats disperse themselves pretty generally over 
the country, and may be heard in most sheltered places, such 
as woods, plantations, gardens, shrubberies, orchards, &o. 
The song in a wild state begins with a long piano note, 
which seldom catches the ear unless one is attentively listen- 
ing for it ; this terminates on a short shrill passage, consisting 
of several distinct arpeggios uttered rapidly, at the conclusion 
of which the bird generally springs from its perch, makes a 
short circuit in the air, and then settles again, to commence 
afresh. Whitethroats are not difficult birds to catch; the 
best bait for them is a living butterfly or caterpillar ; they 
soon become reconciled to confinement, and have been known 
to commence singing the j^hird day after capture. The 
young may be reared without much difficulty, if kept warm, 
and fed on bread soaked in hot water or milk, mashed up 
into a pa3te with meal worms, ants' eggs, lean meat chopped 
very small, or yolk of hard-boiled egg ; they should be taken 
before they are fully fledged, or they will be troublesome. 
The parent birds will generally feed the young in confine- 
ment ; they may be readily caught by placing the nest, after 
it is taken, in a trap cage ; they will also perform the pa- 
ternal duties while at liberty, if the young are placed in 
a cage close by the wires, through which they can be fed, and 
hung near the spot from whence the nest was procured. 
Old birds of this species reared in captivity, require a great 
deal of animal food ; insects of all kinds they will eat, and 
are especially partial to house flies. Elder and blackberries 
should sometimes be given ; thos<^ caught when old evince a 
