Out Native Song Birds . 
135 
in g ; and as for singing, if you have one good 
song bird, or if you can whistle well, the little 
things will soon learn a tune quite nicely. 
When you mean to teach birds a tune, however, 
you should try to prevent their hearing any other 
air, or other birds singing near them, as that would 
very likely make them sing incorrectly. 
You should whistle to them very slowly and 
distinctly, and it is a good plan to give the lessons 
eariy in the morning, and before and after you feed 
them. Sometimes, too, they will sing brilliantly 
for green stuff, and then you should be careful 
always to give them some when they have per- 
formed well. 
In taming birds it is a great secret never to 
startle them — you should go up to them gently, 
not in a hat or bonnet, and always talk to them 
a great deal when you are feeding them. They 
will get so impudent then that they will shake 
their wings and scold violently if you don’t feed 
them fast enough, or if you presume to serve their 
neighbours first. An inconsiderate practice, as 
every one must take turns. 
After they are about six weeks old you should 
begin to give your birds other food besides hemp- 
seed, in greater quantity, and indeed by degrees 
