58 
«^Aaji ATiu isinaiisG Birds 
they will be of a gray colour, with just a tinge of yellow, 
and not till af ter the first moulting* will they become red on 
the throat and breast, and look, indeed, like robins. If you 
are determined to take them and make prisoners of them, do 
so ; tend them carefully, feed them upon bread soaked with 
milk, with some chopped earth or meal worms, and place 
them, when old enough, under the tuition of a nightingale, 
and they will make splendid songsters. And if you will jj, 
attempt to capture the old birds, these are the methods 
which are most likely to be successful. Should it be in the 
spring, insert sticks, to which limed twigs are attached, 
transversely into the hedge, then drive the birds gently 
towards them ; or, better still, place a decoy in a cage on 
the spot ; or clear a space of grass, and place limed twigs 
over it, dropping in meal worms for bait. At this season, 
too, the nightingale, tit, or water trap may be successfully 
used. In autumn, set springes, baited with elderberries, 
but be careful to remove the bird as soon as possible after 
it is caught, or it will get injured in the struggle for free- 
dom. Robins may also at this season be readily caught in 
trap cages, especially if a decoy-bird is used. Bread 1 
crumbs, meal or earth worms, and elderberries, if in season, 
should be given to these birds when first caught, afterwards 
they can live on the common aviary food ; they thrive best, 
however, on that recommended for the nightingale. Care 
must be taken not to put two male robins together, as they 
will be sure to fight until the weaker is killed. They re- 
quire plenty of water, being fond of bathing. Those which 
are confined in cages sing better than those turned loose in 
the aviary ^ almost any kind of cage will do for them. 
They become very tame, and may be taught a variety of 
tricks. 
LARKS AND PIPETS. 
We have ^iere classed together two families, or rather 
gemera of bir is, which have many natural affinities. Among 
them are s 3veral species remarkable for the variety and 
compass of their notes, and which are therefore highly 
valued as ca ^e birds. The best known and prime favourite 
of them is 
