The Natural History of Cage Birds

85

It is not a native of Britain. – Translator.

86

To prepare this tincture, take of water four parts, of black oxide of iron one part; boil the oxide with the water, and then pass a current of chlorine gas through the mixture till it will absorb no more; filter the liquor and evaporate over a slow fire to the consistence of an extract; when this is cold, pour upon it of hydrochloric ether three parts; let it macerate without heat for several days; then add of alcoholised hydrochloric acid nine parts; macerate again, filter the liquor, and expose it to the sun. – Translator.

87

This is a mistake; it is as fond of berries as of insects. – Translator.

88

This bird also has the art of pleasing by his pretty tricks. He shows a striking affection for his mistress; utters a particular sound, a more tender note to welcome her; at her approach he darts against the wires of his cage, and, by a continued fluttering, accompanied with little cries, he seems to express his eagerness and gratitude.

A young male which I had put in the hothouse for the winter, was accustomed to receive from my hand, every time I entered, a meal-worm; this took place so regularly, that immediately on my arrival he placed himself near the little jar where I kept the meal-worms. If I pretended not to notice this signal he would take flight, and, passing close under my nose, immediately resume his post; and this he repeated, sometimes even striking me with his wing, till I satisfied his wishes and impatience.

89

No doubt his great voracity weakens his stomach, and by loading the intestines with glutinous matter the vessels cannot take up sufficient nourishment; it is therefore not conveyed sufficiently to the skin and feathers, whence proceed the fall of the latter and the enfeeblement of the body.

90

This bird is not known in Britain. – Translator.

91

It is however, by no means easily tamed, but remains fearful and distant. – Translator.

92

In Britain they remain all the year. – Translator.

93

I have seen some in cages which were entirely fed on white bread which was soaked in hot milk left to get cold, and they were very healthy. If, however, we would feed them well, they require nearly the same diet as the nightingale. – Translator.

94

It is rarely seen in Britain. – Translator.

95

I have made the same observation on the redstart.

96

It remains all winter in Britain. – Translator.

97

This is a mistake, as it likes to frequent high elms. – Translator.

98

It is rare in England. – Translator.

99

It is a remarkable fact, that this bird, now so common in Thuringia, was a rarity there twenty years ago. This change cannot be attributed to climate or food. What is the occasion of it then? – Author.

100

In sitting on house eaves, and singing in the autumn, it performs a similar part in Germany to the red-breast in Britain. No red-breast on the Continent becomes familiar about the house like ours; they keep always in the woods. – Translator.

101

At a very advanced age the female acquires all the colours of the male, yet less bright, as I have observed of several birds. Such females do not breed afterwards, and in summer fly from place to place. This peculiarity is also observed in hen-pheasants. – Author.

102

It is not found in Britain. – Translator.

103

This I doubt. – Translator.

104

Most certainly a mistake. – Translator.

105

Sweet’s British Warblers.

106

One of these pretty birds, which I had in my room one winter, ate with pleasure, and appeared to thrive upon, a very simple paste, made of the crumb of white bread dried in an oven and powdered: a teaspoonful of this was put in a cup, and three teaspoonfuls of milk, as hot as it could be made without boiling, poured over it. – Author.

107

It is rare in Britain. – Translator.

108

It is difficult to decide to what genus this species belongs; it has the characteristics of several. Its size, habit, food, mixed insects and seeds, even its pace, for when on the ground it rarely hops like the warblers, but runs quickly head forwards, like the quails, scarcely ever resting on trees; in all this it bears a relation to the larks. Now as there are larks that appear to form the link between that genus and the warblers, the Alpine warbler may be said to form one also between the warblers and the larks. – Translator.

109

It is called Joe Bent by the London bird-catchers. – Translator.

110

This cylinder oftens occasions their death. It is only by great address and quickness that they can pass through the hole of communication; each time they run the risk of being crushed, especially on coming out, from the prolonged motion of the machine. – Translator.

111

It is not uncommon in Britain, such as near London, &c. – Translator.

112

They are fond of picking bones. – Translator.

113

They are not uncommon in Britain, such as about London, &c. – Translator.

114

It is found, but rarely, in the fir woods in the north of Scotland. – Translator.

115

I have, however, seen one old crested tit that was tamed as easily as any other bird. After passing the winter in a cage it refused its liberty in the spring. It was then placed in the garden near the house, where it remained till evening, having hopped about all day, uttering restless anxious cries. Its mistress, fearing some accident befalling it during the night, held the cage towards it, into which it instantly jumped with pleasure. Since then it has been allowed to range three adjoining rooms. It is always lively, coming when its mistress calls, and perching on her finger, and seeking in her half-closed hand the flies she may have there. It made a nest in a window-curtain, into which it would glide secretly in the evening, but would never go whilst any eyes were turned on that side, and seized a favourable moment so quickly, that for some time no one knew where it retired; when it was discovered, the curtains were never touched. – Translator.

116

This is not quite correct, the female having small moustaches of a light colour. – Translator.

117

They abound in the fens of Lincolnshire, on the Thames below Greenwich, &c. – Translator.

118

Great numbers are brought from Holland to London, and sell for about five shillings a pair. – Translator.

119

This is a mistake: the food given to the young is a sort of thick milky secretion from the stomach of the parent birds, both male and female. – Translator.

120

In England they are not uncommon in the woods. – Translator.

121

The close and mephitic air of these rooms, which are kept warmer whilst a person is ill, may well produce this apparent sympathy. – Translator.

122

An erroneous opinion, which displays more egotism than humanity; yet do people generally act with more equity and disinterestedness?

123

Here is another instance, in which man, seeking his own pleasure at the expense of the well being of other creatures, deceives himself respecting the motives. The poor prisoner does not sing to amuse himself, or from contentment; its repeated cries call unceasingly for the mate from which it is separated; and though they have been vain throughout the day, he renews them on the morrow, no doubt, like man, supported by hope, – a hope, alas! which is never realised! – Author.

124

It is now uncommon in Britain. – Translator.

125

A great many mallards are half domesticated on the water in St. James' Park, London, and other similar places in England. – Translator.