The Natural History of Cage Birds

THE RUFOUS CHIFF-CHAFF

Sylvia rufa, Bechstein; La Fauvette rousse, Buffon; Der Weidenzeisig, Bechstein

This and the gold-crested wren are the smallest of our European birds.

The full-grown male has the bill a third of an inch in length, very narrow, and pointed; of a blackish brown, except at the edges and within, where it is yellow. The iris is dusky brown. From the base of the bill on each side there runs a narrow yellowish white streak, and there is another straight streak of a dusky yellow over the eye. The sides of the head are of a very clear brown. The upper part of the head, neck, and back, are greyish brown, with a slight tinge of olive. The throat is greyish white; the breast light grey, with a very pale tinge of red, or rather rust brown. The belly is greyish white, with faint yellowish streaks.

The females and the young males, before the first moult, have the upper parts of a clear olive green, and the under parts reddish white.

I have never met with the nest; but it is said to be built on the ground amongst fallen leaves, domed, with a side entrance, and lined with feathers. The eggs are said to be from four to seven, white, with reddish black dots, most crowded at the larger end.

The young branchers may be caught in autumn by means of the owl, with limed twigs, and fed on ant’s eggs and small meal-worms. They will also soon take to bread and milk, or German paste, and become exceedingly tame, but are very impatient of cold.

It is most probably a native of Britain, like the preceding; but is not yet distinctly proved to be so.

THE HAY-BIRD, OR WILLOW WREN

Sylvia Fitis, Bechstein; S. Trochilus, Latham; Le Bec-fin Pouillot, Temminck; Der Fitis Sanger, Meyer; Der Weidenblatt, Bechstein

This species weighs about two drachms and three quarters; length five inches and a quarter. The bill is dusky above, yellowish beneath; irides hazel. The whole upper parts of the plumage are of a greenish yellow brown: the under parts are white, tinged with yellow; on the breast are a few yellow streaks; legs light brown.

This is a plentiful species in some parts; frequents wooded and enclosed situations, especially where willows abound; is frequently found with the wood wren, but does not extend so far to the west in England, as it is rarely met with in Cornwall. It comes to us early in April, and soon begins its usual song, which is short, with little variety. About the latter end of the same month, or beginning of May, it makes a nest of an oval shape, with a small opening near the top, composed of moss and dried grass, and lined with feathers. This is placed in the hollow of a ditch, or in a low bush close to the ground.

MR. SWEET’T ACCOUNT OF THE HAY-BIRD

This is another little favourite songster, and a most deserving one it is. It visits us the latter end of March, or beginning of April, and leaves us again at the end of September, or beginning of October. On its first arrival, it enlivens our woods and groves with its lively piercing song and gay frolics, flying about from tree to tree, and catching the small gnats and flies that come in its way. It builds its nest on the ground in a thicket amongst dead leaves and moss, with a covering on the top, of the same materials as those lying all around, so that it is impossible to find it without watching one of the old ones to the nest, which in general consists of six or seven young ones. These may either be brought up from the nest, or if an old one be caught wild it is easily tamed. When first put in the cage with a tame bird, the general food, bread and milk, and eggs, should be stuck full of small flies, aphides, small caterpillars, or other small insects, in picking out which it will taste the other food, and soon take to eat it readily, and will soon become very tame in confinement. One that I caught in September was, in three days afterwards, let out of the aviary into the room to catch the flies, that were numerous at that season. After amusing itself for some time in catching flies, it began singing; and it did the same several other times when it was let out, and in a few days began to sing in its aviary. It soon became so familiar, that it would take flies out of the hand; and when out in the room, if a fly was held towards it, would fly up, and take it immediately.

Although the present species is so small a bird, it is very courageous, being generally the master of the cage, and as it is so fine a songster, and almost continually in song, no little bird can be more desirable in a cage with other birds; its note, when in full song, being so loud and shrill, that its voice is plainly heard above the nightingale’s when both are in full song.

THE WOOD WREN

Sylvia sibilatrix, Bechstein; Le Bec-fin Siffleur, Temminck; Der grüne Sanger, Meyer

This bird remained long unnoticed as a distinct species, from its resemblance to the hay-bird (Sylvia Trochilus), with which it is still frequently confounded. It measures in length five inches and a half; bill horn-colour; upper mandible bent at the tip, and rather longer than the under; irides hazel; nostrils beset with bristles; top of the head, neck, back, and tail-coverts olive green; throat and cheeks yellow, paler on the breast; belly and vent of a most beautiful silvery white; through the eye passes a yellow line; legs rather more than an inch long, of a horn-colour, claws paler.

MR. SWEET’T ACCOUNT OF THE WOOD WREN

This elegant and beautiful little species ranks itself amongst my list of favourites. It visits this country the beginning of April, and leaves it in August, or the beginning of September. It is generally to be found in summer amongst tall trees in woods and plantations, where it is readily detected on its arrival, by a shrill shaking sort of note that may be heard at a great distance, and cannot be confounded with any other bird. On its first arrival it sings the greater part of the day, and continues its song, more or less, through the summer, except at the time it is engaged in feeding its young. Its nest is built on the ground in a thicket amongst moss and dead leaves, so that it is impossible to find it without watching one of the old ones to the nest, which is easily done when they have young. They may either be tamed when old, or reared from the nest, and are not difficult to be caught when young with a little bird-lime at the end of a fishing-rod, as may several other species of this interesting group.

As the present species feeds entirely upon insects when wild, the greater part of which it catches on the wing, it will be useless to give it any sort of fruit or berry; but bread and milk, bruised hemp-seed and bread, with bits of fresh lean meat cut very small and mixed up in it, will be its general food. It is also very fond of the yolk of an egg boiled hard, and crumbled small, or stirred up with the point of a knife that it may peck it out of the shell as it likes. Sometimes these birds are apt to get off their other food, and will live on egg several days; at such a time if a few flies could be procured for them, it would be the most likely to restore their appetite.

THE GRASSHOPPER BIRD

Locustella avicula, Ray; Sylvia locustella, Latham; L’Llouette locustelle, Buffon; Der Fleuschrechensanger, Meyer

This species is less than the white-throat; length five inches and a half; weight about three drachms and a quarter. The bill is dusky above, whitish beneath; irides light hazel. The whole upper parts of the bird are olivaceous brown; the middle of each feather dusky, except on the back of the neck, which gives it a pretty spotted appearance; the tail is much cuneiform, and the feathers somewhat pointed, which is a very marked and peculiar character in this species; the outer feather being full an inch shorter than the middle ones, and nearly rounded at the tips, the wing remarkably short, reaching very little beyond the base of the tail; legs very pale brown; claws light-horn colour; hind claw short and crooked.

In shape, the grasshopper warbler very much resembles the sedge-bird; is rather inferior in size, and at once distinguished by its spotted back.

MR. SWEET’T ACCOUNT OF THE GRASSHOPPER BIRD

The present species is known amongst bird-catchers by the name of the grasshopper lark, and it was originally placed amongst the larks by ornithologists, but has been very properly removed from them by later authors, as it wants the most characteristic mark of that family, namely, its long claw. It is a very rare bird in the neighbourhood of London, and I have never been able to procure but one of them, which I lost the first winter, by letting it wash too much; in confinement it requires the same sort of management as recommended for the two last species, and it will succeed very well. I am not acquainted with their song, never having lived in any neighbourhood where they visit, but I have been credibly informed that they have none but a note like the chirping of the grasshopper; this may probably be the case, but I have often heard the same report of some of our finest songsters, which people had confused with very common birds, there being very few who do not confuse, under the general name of white-throats, the common fly-catcher, both white-throats, the greater pettychaps, and the blackcaps, when young; and many even confuse with these the willow wren, wood wren, and lesser pettychaps: this tribe of birds being only summer visitants, are less known than any others.

These birds are not uncommon in several parts of England; they are said to be plentiful on Malmesbury Common, Wiltshire, in summer, where they breed; they are also frequently seen in Norfolk and Suffolk, and in various other parts, where they build their nest among some high grass or sedge, in which it is so concealed that it is with difficulty found, except by watching the old birds carrying food to their young ones; or when building, they may be seen carrying materials to construct their nest.

In a wild state these birds feed entirely on insects, such as flies, moths, butterflies, spiders, ants; and their eggs, small beetles, and numerous other sorts, so that in confinement they will frequently require insect food.

THE REED WARBLER

Sylvia arundinacea, Latham; La Fauvette des Roseaux, Buffon; Der Teichsänger oder Sumpfsänger, Bechstein

This species has been confounded, not only with others with a greenish plumage that are analogous, but in describing it with the reed thrush (Turdus arundinaceus, Linn.), and in its manner of life with the black-bonnet, or reed bunting (Emberiza Schæniclus, Linn.). It is five inches in length, of which the tail measures two. The beak, seven lines long, resembles that of the arbour bird, brown above and yellowish beneath; the iris is chestnut brown; the shanks are eight lines high, and ash grey; the forehead is very long, greenish grey; the rest of the upper part of the body, including the wing-coverts, are of the same colour, tinged with olive; the rump is paler; a straw-coloured line extends above the eyes; the cheeks are olive brown; the under part of the body is yellowish white; the knees are olive grey; the anterior quill-feathers are dusky; the secondary are dark brown; all are edged with olive grey; the tail-feathers have the same colour as the quill-feathers, but with a wider olive grey border; the tail is very much rounded, and nearly wedge-formed.

There is little difference in the female. Her head is pale brown: a white line passes across the eyes; the upper part is reddish grey, tinged with olive; the under part, except the throat, which is white, is pale grey, tinged with yellow; the quill-feathers are darker brown than the tail, with an olive grey border.

Habitation. – When wild they are found throughout Europe, wherever rushes and reeds abound. They arrive in Germany towards the middle of April, and leave it the beginning of September. As they are very delicate, in the house they must be kept in a nightingale’s cage.

Food. – When wild it feeds on all kinds of aquatic insects, and, when these fail, on berries. In the house, independently of nightingale’s food, it requires in a cage all the insects that can be caught, as flies, water-spiders, and gnats.

Breeding. – The nest, rather long and very ingeniously fastened to the stems of the reeds or the branches of bushes by the water side, is constructed of pieces of dried grass, of which the largest are on the outside, and the finer within; these are sometimes mixed with wool and hair. The eggs, five or six in number, are greenish white, streaked and speckled with olive green. The young ones can only be reared on ants’ eggs.

Mode of Taking. – These birds are sometimes caught by placing lime twigs on a place cleared of the turf, and throwing meal-worms there.

Attractive Qualities. – The song of the reed warbler very much resembles that of the arbour bird, but is not so full; what renders it so agreeable is, that its varied melody is heard during evening and morning twilight.

MR. SWEET’T ACCOUNT OF THE REED WARBLER

This is a very variable bird in its colours, some being of a very pale colour, and others altogether as dark, and those that are pale one season frequently become dark the ensuing one. It is a curious little lively bird, known often by the name of reed wren. It generally makes its appearance with us the beginning of April, and leaves us in September. Its early or late departure seems to depend a good deal on the warmth or coolness of the seasons. It is a very merry bird, almost continually singing, and will sing by night as well as by day, sitting amongst the reeds, or in some bush or tree near the water, where it feeds on the gnats and other insects that infest moist situations. It is very fond of flies, spiders, small caterpillars, moths, grasshoppers, crickets, and many other insects, and will swallow a larger one than could be imagined for so small a bird. In confinement it will feed readily on the general food, and is also very fond of the yolk of an egg boiled hard, so that it may be crumbled on the top of the other food, or put in the cage in an empty egg-shell. It should also be supplied with a few insects occasionally, such as flies, spiders, small caterpillars, moths, or butterflies. Being an inhabitant of the sides of ditches and rivers, it is very partial to washing, which it must not be allowed to do in winter, or it will wash itself until it is so weak that it can never recover.

THE SEDGE BIRD

Sylvia Phragmitis, Bechstein; S. salicaria, Latham; Le Bec-fin Phragmite, Temminck; Der Schilsänger, Meyer

The weight of this species is about three drachms; length five inches and a half; bill dusky above, whitish beneath; irides hazel; crown of the head and whole upper parts of a yellowish brown, plain on the back and sides of the neck, rump, and upper tail-coverts; tail like the quills a little cuneiform, which, when spread, gives it a rounded shape; legs dusky.

MR. SWEET’T ACCOUNT OF THE SEDGE BIRD

In habit and manner the present species approaches to the former, but is a much handsomer bird; though not so rare, it frequents the sides of ditches, ponds, and rivers, like the last species, where it pours forth its variable diurnal and nocturnal song almost incessantly, on its first arrival in this country, which is generally the beginning of April, leaving us again about the middle of September. It builds its nest in a thicket of reeds, or other tall water-grass, on which it is fastened up with the webs of caterpillars, similar to that of the former, which is fastened to the branches of trees, so that no wind or storm can move it.

The song of the present species is somewhat similar to that of the last, but is more shrill and chattering; some people prefer it to that of the latter species, but I do not, as it wants some fine deep notes that the other possesses: it is also an imitative bird, its song being intermixed with the call of the sparrow and parts of the songs of other birds. Its food is precisely the same as that of the last species; and in confinement the treatment for both must be exactly alike.

THE WREN

Motacilla Troglodytes, Linnæus; Le Roitelet, ou Troglodite, Buffon; Der Zaunkönig, Bechstein

This, except the rufous chiff-chaff and the gold-crested wren, is the smallest bird of our climate. It is only three inches and a half in length, of which the tail measures one and a half. The beak is five lines, rather curved at the point, dusky above, yellowish white below, and yellow within; the iris is hazel brown; the shanks are seven lines high, and greyish brown; the upper part of the body is dusky rust brown, with indistinct dark brown streaks across.

The female is smaller, of a redder brown, and confusedly streaked across; the feet are yellowish.

Habitation. – When wild it is found all over Europe, and particularly frequents mountainous and woody places. It does not quit us, but remains in winter, as in summer, near our dwellings.

In the house, on account of its liveliness, it is given rather a large cage, the bars of which should be very near together. If allowed to range it may easily escape through small openings, as it is very fond of penetrating such crevices.

Food. – At liberty, it consists throughout the year of small insects, which it seeks in winter in barns, stables, cellars, holes in walls, and piles of wood. In autumn, however, it will eat both unripe and black elderberries.

As soon as it is brought into the house it must be plentifully supplied with meal-worms, flies, elderberries, and then gradually add nightingales' paste, which will soon become its ordinary food. It is only by adopting this method that I have been successful in preserving one of these birds.

Breeding. – Any nook appears to suit the wren to build its large nest in; which may be found in a hole of a tree, amongst the roots, under a roof, or a cavity under ground; every place is suitable, provided the nest can be concealed. This is oval, covered with moss on the outside, and lined with feathers and hair. It has an opening at the top or side to go in and out by. The female lays from six to eight pretty little white eggs, speckled with red. The young ones are rusty red, spotted with black and white. They may be reared on ants’ eggs, adding, as soon as they can fly, the universal paste; but they always prefer ants’ eggs.

Mode of Taking. – If in winter, a white-throat trap is set in a place much frequented by these birds, and meal-worms scattered within and around it. In this the wrens will surely be caught. They may be entrapped in autumn with spring traps and springes, by hanging elderberries before; but, after every precaution, they generally break their legs.

Attractive Qualities. – Its sprightliness is pleasing, and its actions gay and varied. It has a very powerful voice for its size, and its song is continued throughout the year; it is soft, and mingled with some notes of the canary, which are the more pleasing as they consist of distinct loud tones always descending. Its call is tzrr, tzetzererr! I have never preserved one more than a year, but other amateurs say they may be kept two or three.

THE GOLD-CRESTED WREN

Motacilla Regulus, Linnæus; Le Poul, ou Roitelet huppé, Buffon; Das Goldhähnchen, Bechstein

This is the smallest of European birds. It is three inches and a half in length, of which the tail measures one and a quarter. The beak is four lines, slender, very sharp, and black, having the nostrils covered with a feather divided like a comb; the iris is dusky; the shanks are eight lines in height, and brownish flesh-coloured; the forehead is yellowish brown; a black streak extends from the corners of the beak to the eyes, above which is a white streak, and below them a white speck; the top of the head is saffron yellow, each side edged with golden yellow, beyond which is a black band.

The female has the top of the head golden yellow, the forehead and wings grey.

Habitation. – When wild these pretty little birds are diffused throughout the old world, principally frequenting pine and fir forests, and do not appear to migrate, excepting those that inhabit northern countries, and go towards the south in October, and return in March; at least, they are then observed on their passage, in Germany, the hedges being full of them in spring; but those established among us remain, as they are seen all the year. They assemble in small flights in winter, and fly about here and there, like the tits, seeking places where their food is most abundant.

In the house a bell-shaped cage appears to suit them best. Several may be kept together in a part of a room enclosed with trellis work, and with a small fir tree for them to perch on. Reared from the nest, they may be allowed to perch on a tree in the room, which they enjoy so much that they are never far from it; if there are many they will perch in a row, press close side by side, and sleep in this manner.

Food. – In the wild state it feeds on all kinds of small insects and their grubs; they are, however, able to swallow large flies, as the beak has a wide opening.

In the house the gold-crests are soon accustomed to the nightingales' paste, by throwing amongst it at first flies deprived of their wings, or half dead, and at length they will be satisfied with bruised hemp-seed; but they must have insects occasionally, flies, meal-worms cut small, ants’ eggs, &c.; finally, to keep them healthy, their paste should be neither too stiff nor too moist, and care must be taken to avoid their swallowing rape or camelin seed, which would immediately kill them106.

Breeding. – The nest, fixed to the extremity of a branch, is round, and very soft, built of moss, caterpillar’s cocoons, and tufts of thistle down; it is generally found in low underwood or meadows with woods adjoining, on the first tree towards the east. About nine eggs are laid, the size of a pea, and pale blush red. Those young ones intended to be reared must not be taken from the nest till they are fledged, and it is best to catch them just as they are leaving the nest. They eat readily meal-worms cut small, flies, ants’ eggs, and white bread soaked in boiled milk.

Mode of Taking. – As they are not fearful, they may easily be caught by gently approaching the tree where one is perched, and merely striking it with a limed twig fastened to a pole long enough to reach it. It may be brought down also with water, in the manner adopted by M. Le Vaillant, that is, by first putting into a gun the common charge of powder, then a wadding of silk, then, as soon as the bird is within reach, two spoonfuls of water are poured in and covered with a second wadding of silk, which must not be rammed down hard, lest the water should reach the powder below. This load, discharged at the distance of twenty paces, is capable of wetting the bird so completely that it may be taken by the hand; but if there are hedges in the neighbourhood, or if a stronger bird be fired at, a chaffinch, for instance, it may easily escape.

Many gold-crested wrens may be caught by means of a hut set for any small birds, when the way to attract them is known. They come in great numbers to the water trap, and by their often repeated call of tzitt, tzitt, give notice of sunset and the arrival of larger birds.

They will soon grow tame enough to eat out of the hand. On account of their delicacy, many often die before a person succeeds in rearing one; but when once accustomed to the house they will live a long time, at least if not hurt by other birds, and if they do not swallow what they cannot digest.

Attractive Qualities. – The smallness of their size, their elegance and beauty, render them a pleasant acquisition; but their song adds to their attractions, for though weak it is very melodious, and resembles that of the canary.

THE HON. AND REV. W. HERBERT’T ACCOUNT OF THE GOLD-CRESTED WREN

The golden-crested wren and the common brown wren are both very impatient of cold. In confinement, the least frost is immediately fatal to them. In a wild state they keep themselves warm by constant active motion in the day, and at night they secrete themselves in places where the frost cannot reach them; but I apprehend that numbers do perish in severe winters. I once caught half a dozen golden wrens at the beginning of winter, and they lived extremely well upon egg and meat, being exceedingly tame. At roosting time there was always a whimsical conflict amongst them for the inside places, as being the warmest, which ended of course by the weakest going to the wall. The scene began with a low whistling call amongst them to roost, and the two birds on the extreme right and left flew on the backs of those in the centre, and squeezed themselves into the middle. A fresh couple from the flanks immediately renewed the attack upon the centre, and the conflict continued till the light began to fail them. A severe frost in February killed all but one of them in one night, though in a furnished drawing-room. The survivor was preserved in a little cage by burying it every night under the sofa cushions; but having been one sharp morning taken from under them before the room was sufficiently warmed by the fire, though perfectly well when removed, it was dead in ten minutes. The nightingale is not much more tender of cold than a canary bird. The golden-crowned wren very much frequents spruce fir trees and cedars, and hangs its nest under their branches; it is also fond of the neighbourhood of furze bushes, under which it probably finds warm refuge from the cold. The brown wren is very apt in frosty weather to roost in cow-houses, where the cattle keep it warm.