CAGE AND SINGING BIRDS. 
23 
often unable to take sufficient nourishment without help, and 
yet are unwilling* to be fed. In this emerg-ency, the introduc- 
tion of a gentle, kindly-dispositioned old bird has been found 
useful. A male chaffinch has been known to feed a dozen 
tiedg-ehngs, to which, previous to his introduction among* 
them, he was a total stranger. Young birds frequently get 
their feathers very much soiled and matted together, not- 
withstanding* all the attention that may be bestowed upon 
them ; a warm bath with a little soap and flannel will remove 
the impurities. After the operation the birds should be 
carefully covered up, and placed in the simshine or before 
a fire ; if they g-et chilled, death will surely be the result. 
As, however, the bath tends to weaken the birds, it should 
be seldom resorted to. Should the nestlings be troubled with 
vermin, drop on a piece of flannel or soft rag some spirits of 
turpentine, and fold it closely around the little patient, leav- 
ing only the head uncovered ; hold it so for the space of 
about a minute. On taking it ofi*, the insects will be found 
adhering to it. Destroy the rag, and repeat the application 
as often as may be necessarJ^ 
> Young broods in captivity are frequently reared by their 
wild parents, if placed in a cage where they can have access 
to them. This plan, however, is not a good one for those 
which are intended for trained songsters, as they w^ill be sure 
to practise their natural notes, and introduce them into the 
artificial song which they afterwards acquire. With some 
kinds, perhaps, this is rather an advantage, but those 
who resort to this sort of management, should be aware 
of it. 
TEACHING AND TRAINING. 
As ifc is for their vocal powers that the majority of cage 
birds are chiefly valued, it is of great importance that they 
should be properly taught. Artificial songs or strains are 
, most commonly preferred to natural ones, and however much 
/ we may in many instances question the good taste of thm 
preference, yet we cannot ignore the fact as it stands, nor 
can we consider a work like the present at all complete 
unless it furnishes the bird fancier with some information as 
to the systems of instruction which obtain in the schools 
