52 
CAGE AND SINGING BIRDS. 
warbler slioiild be put into a cage with some tame birds; or, 
if confined by itself^ it should be placed near a cag-e with 
another in it, as being- wild and restless, without feathered 
compan}^, it will seldom live. It will soon become reconciled 
to its fate, and will grow in time very sociable and familiar. 
It must be tempted to eat the bruised hemp-seed and bread, 
by insects sprinkled over it ; when accustomed to this, there 
is no more trouble with the bird. Like all the warblers, it 
requires a good proportion of insect food, and is fond of yolk 
of egg. It delights in bathing, and should have plenty 
of water for the purpose if the weather is warm, but not 
otherwise, except just now and then. At the season of 
migration, these birds, like many others, become very rest- 
less, and will frequently injure themselves in attempting to 
escape ^ they should, therefore, be carefully watched : at 
such times it is best to have the cage or room in which they 
are confined, darkened for awhile, till the restless fit is over, 
Bechstein describes this species as a rather agreeable song- 
ster, with a melody like that of the arbour bird, though 
scarcely so full and rich : it is almost free from those harsh 
wiry notes which grate on the ear in the song of the sedge 
warbler, like which it sings both early and late in the day. 
THE WILLOW WARBLER, 
Or willow wren, arrives in this country towards the end of 
April, and remains till the end of September. It inhabits 
woods, thickets, and gardens, and may be found in most 
localities; it builds a neat nest of moss and leaves, lined 
with feathers, and arched over ; this is generally placed in 
the lower part of a thick bush, or among the tall grass 
beneath it; the eggs are six or seven in number, spotted 
with violet on a whitish ground. If any young birds are 
taken to rear, those which have the yellowish plumage should 
be selected ; the best food for them is bread and milk, with 
ants' eggs, so says Bechstein, who describes it as a clean 
lively bird, with most attractive manners and an agreeable 
song; its call-note, hoid ! hoid ! is almost constantly 
heard. It is a good fly-catcher; and after making a dart at 
one of these insects, always returns to the perch to eat it. 
To accustom the bird to the common food of the aviary, a 
few flies should be mixed therewith : it is fond of ants' eggs 
