Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-29

Choice and Care OF S0ft.hilled Rirds,
From the New York Times.
Lovers Of hirds-and who IL there but loves
the little feathered songsters whose happy carols
seem to throw welcome cheerfulness and
mystic companionship even into gloomy soil
tude-who wish to secure the best Of these pets
may profit by some excellent suggestions con.
tanned in the current number of Hdrper's Bazry
relative to the choice and care OF the soft-biled
variety, whose melody is Of the sweetest. but
who cannot feed upon the ordinary seed. The
robin redbreast, though seldom made pet of in
this country, is capable Of becoming one of the
tamest and best. He will grow so tame, indeed,
that cage will only be needed as sort of home
when sleepy or as refuge from the dreaded
cat. He will further become. after time. the
most affectionate of the bird tribe. and can,
without much difficulty. be taught amusing
tricks. His food should consist of a paste made
of one-third stale wheat bread soaked and
pressed in water; One-thrd dry carrot grated
and one-sixth each Of a hard-boiled egg and
bruised hemp-seed. Occasionally too, he should
have meal-worm, a little chopped beef, and a
little fruit. Another charming little pet. also
too little cultivated for sale by fanciers is the
yellow-breasted chat. which. unlike the robin
redbreast, is a native Bird His food is the same
as the latter, however, with even a more plenti-
full allotment of fruit. The upper part of his
body is rich olive green, while the lower part
He is a genuine ventriloquist and can throw his
song in different directions in way that is as
surprising as it is delightful and unusual
Still another sOngster, unaccOuntably
neglected by fanciers, who should appre-
ciate above all others its meritorious qualities
Is the brown thrush or thrasher. Justly ranking
second to the mocking-b bird in power of song
and in the valued initiative faculty, he is supe-
rtOr to the hooking bird as an inmate of the
cage or aviary. His food consists of two-fifths
OF pounded cracker. with an equal quantity of
oatmeal, and one-fifth Of hard boiled egg.
these ingredients being thoroughly mixed in
the consistency Of fresh bread. He will relish,
also, grasshOpper once week. Feeding upon
the same diet, and readily cared for, is the wood
thrush. possessing the finest song Of all our ma
tive birds, but song, unfortunately, that is too
spOrt-lived to rank him as high as it would were
1t as sustained as it is surprising sweet The star
ling, too, is pet to be priced for its cOntrasted
colors and rare ability as melodious whistler.
In addition to this tuneful quality he can be
taught to talk as well and as quantity as the
parrot. He is fed upon diet comprising equal
proportions OF dry grated carrot. the yolk of
hard-bOlled eggs, pounded crackers, bruised
hempseed, and chopped currants. He should
also be given now and then little bit of fresh
sod IN his cage, Another rare pet can be made
OF the blackcap, which some judges of bird
music believe to rank second only to the night
ingale as songster, and who, in fact, is known
in England as the ''mOck nightingale" Its
feathers are Of silky gloss and softness its head
black and Its body gray, the female being the
larger of the two sexes and wearing yellowsh-
brown cap. Both may be fed on the same diet
as the robin red-breast, with considerable green
food in addition.