18 
CAGE AND SINGING BIRDS. 
the hard billed birds, which feed upon grain and seeds 
chiefly ; they are many of them very difficult to rear, requir- 
ing* great care and attention, which they will repay with P 
their melodious song. The Honourable and Reverend Wil- b 
liam Herbert, an authority on this point, objects to milk, I 
which Sweet recommends to be given occasionally, for all ^ 
except blackcaps, which he says do not appear to suffer from 
it ; this is but a negative kind of praise. He also says that 
a boiled carrot or beetroot, mashed and moistened, is good 
for these birds, and that they are very fond of it. Boiled 
cabbage, or cauliflower, green peas, all sorts of pudding, 
and a little finely-minced cooked meat, may also be given at 
times with advantage. The standard food, however, is 
hempseed, ground, which may be done in a cofi*ee-mill, and 
bread crumbs scalded and mashed up together ^ these birds 
are also fond of ripe pears, currants, cherries, honeysuckle, 
privet, and elder berries, but the latter are objectionable, 
because they stain the cages. 
Speaking of milk as an article of diet. Professor Rennie 
says, that he has sometimes given it to the blackcap and other 
birds as medicine, with manifest advantage. Food with 
pepper in it, or in any way highly seasoned, is injurious to 
most cage birds, except parrots, and to these should only be 
given now and then, or in cases where ordered medicinally. 
Stale food is to be avoided like poison ; no more than is 
required for immediate consumption should ever be put into the 
feeding vessels, that is, of a moist nature. Green food is good 
for all birds as a change, but too much should not be given ; 
it is cooling, and also relaxing; fresh water or other cresses, 
chickweed, groundsel, summer cabbage, and lettuce, are the 
best kinds. 
Bechstein give'=v the following receipt for the prepara- 
tion of 
k GENERAL FOOD. 
Take of white bread a sufficient quantity to last your birds 
for three months ; let it be well baked, and left to get stale ; 
then put it again into the oven, and thoroughly dry it, so 
that it can be powdered in a mortar ; put this powder by in 
a dry place, and every day for each bird take out a tea- 
