Notes from 
an Old Diary. 
(107) THE BIRD WORLD. 
Notes from an Old Diary. 
By T. H. KINCH. 
(Continued from Page 90.) 
Bird Tife in our Schools. 
Cannot bird life—its modes, ways, 
and usefulness—be introduced into 
schools, and taught the young? Many 
a useful lesson could be taught, if only 
to promote kindness and check cruelty. 
It would be far better than some of the 
lessons now taught. Thanks to some of 
our large manufacturing firms, pictures 
of birds, etc., are now hung up in the 
schools. This is a step in the right 
direction, for there is nothing like 
making a good impression on the young. 
Many a coloured plate of birds have I 
given to boys interested in birds, and 
many a time have I named the eggs for 
them, and assisted them to study bird 
life. It is not so many weeks ago that 
I gave away several hundreds of old 
papers I had by me relating to birds, 
rabbits, etc., as I was about to remove. 
This gift, I hope, will have a good 
effect, and make a few fanciers in either 
fur or feather. Since this gift I have 
had no end of schoolboys calling on me 
for papers, and bringing dead birds, 
moths, etc. One boy of about eight 
years, after reading the papers, brought 
me a rabbit to know if it was a pure¬ 
bred one. Another brought me a Canary 
to see if it was a cock, as he had bought 
i: for one. I had to laugh over it, for 
it was only a hen, but I found out what 
he had given for it, and who he had 
bought it from. I sent the seller a 
sharp note for deceiving the boy, and 
he at last changed it for a cock. I am 
always glad to help boys. I suppose 
it is because I have not any of my own. 
All the boys know me, and come with 
all sorts of things. Only two or three 
days ago one found a gold wedding ring. 
This he offered to sell me for a penny. 
I took it, placed it in an envelope, and 
sent it to his parents. It has since 
found its owner, and the boy rewarded. 
For such simple acts of kindness to 
children I always consider I am amply 
repaid. 
About the Tits. 
To go back to birds. I have caught 
in my trap cage four different kinds of 
Tits—Cole, Blue, Oxeye, and Longtail. 
The three first-named I have kept to¬ 
gether in a large cage, but soon got tired 
of them, as they were too restless all 
together, and required too much insecti¬ 
vorous foods, and are not desirable pets 
if all together. I selected one of the 
best Oxeyed Tits, and kept him by 
himself. This bird got very tame, was 
a great pet, and would take food from 
my fingers. I kept him for over three 
years, and at last I accidentally poisoned 
him by giving him some flies brought to 
me which were caught on a flypaper. T 
was not aware of how they were 
procured. 
I once kept a pair of Long-tailed 
Tits in a large waggon cage, but they 
were not long before they destroyed their 
tails, and got so unsightly that I gave 
them their liberty. The Cole Tits soon 
got tame in confinement, but the Blue 
Tits did not. These birds I never 
attempted to hand-rear; not that 1 
should have failed to do so, but did not 
care sufficiently for them. 
On Hand-rearing. 
Many a nest of Redstarts have I hand- 
reared. I was always fond of them; 
the cocks are very handsome birds when 
moulted well, and can be kept in con¬ 
finement for some time. One, a great 
favourite, I had over four years, and 1 
think after each moult he looked better. 
I had a good offer made for him and 
let him go. Robins were always great 
favourites of mine. Most winters have 
I caught one or two, and liberated in 
the spring. One I kept for two years, 
