18 
HINTS ON CAGE-BIRDS. 
individuals amongst birds as amongst human beings ; against such 
one can only guard by watching their behaviour when first intro- 
duced into company, and promptly catching them if they misbehave. 
As a general rule it is unsafe to put insectivorous and seed- 
eating birds into the same aviary ; bnt there are notable exceptions 
to this rule; I find that the smaller Chats and the Warblers can be 
safely associated with the tiniest Finches. At the present time I 
have* a pair of Redstarts in the same aviary with a crowd of Grass 
Finches and Waxbills.* It has been suggested that insectivorous 
and granivorous birds should be kept apart, lost they make them- 
selves ill by eating each other’s tood. I think myself that one might 
as well object to keep cats in a stable, lest they should eat hay and 
beans. Many insectivorous birds are partly granivorous, and most 
seed-eating birds are all the better (provided they get plenty of 
exercise) for a certain amount of soft food. 
Wagtails and Thrushes of all kinds, whether British or foreign, 
should not be associated with the tiny Finches, or even with other 
birds much smaller than themselves ; 1 have seen a Grey Wagtail 
hold down and hammer a Blue Tit until it screamed with pain, and 
I had to rush in to the rescue ; the Pied Wagtail is also very aggres- 
sive; as for our Robin and the Blue Robin, their behaviour towards 
small companions is well known, though I have had Robins on 
several occasions which were patterns of amiability. 
Hand-reared birds, when turned into an aviary with wild-caught 
ones, occasionally develop avicidal tendencies : 1 once brought up a 
nest of Chaffinches, and sold one of the cock birds to a friend, who 
turned it into an aviary with Canaries, a pair of Goldfinches, and a 
pair of Bullfinches. A few days later my friend came to me with 
a long face, and informal me that my Chaffinch had scalped a eoek 
and hen Canary ; it had been making up to the hen, and flew into a 
passion because she showed a. decided preference for her lawful 
husband; having run amok, be did not stop with the Canaries, but 
killed a Goldfinch and Bullfinch. My friend said be felt inclined 
to wring the bird’s neck, but finally caged it up and gave it to his 
sister. 
It is impossible to be too cautious ; therefore, unless you are 
quite sure, watch all birds for a day or two after you put them 
together. 
Now the next point is — where to get your birds in good health, 
and in the cheapest market. As regards British birds, this has 
become a more difficult point to decide since the introduction of the 
Wild Birds’ Protection Act. In the old days I should have recom- 
mended my readers to catch what they could, and go to some 
trustworthy bird-catcher for the balance ; but now, where and when 
may you catch ? Where can you find a bird-catcher ? I have 
# Since this was written, the cock Redstart, being anxious to breed before 
the ben was ready, pursued and murdered her ; afterwards be moped and cried 
for her for about a fortnight, and died about a month later. 
