The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-08-07
FEATHERED SONGSTEAS.

FEATHERED SONGSTEAS.
praeticci Instructions I'm the CaF& and
arrangement of Cage Birds-W3sat
They are Worth and xsow Long
They live.
THE MOCKING-BIRD.
The nightingale of America-the
mocking- birds a native of the South
ern States, where thousands of them are
taken from the nest before they are
aedged and reared by hand. They are
often sold for fabulous prices, although
The general price for young ones is IS
each and for older birds from $12 to
s25
During the breeding season, which
commences In March and ends in Sep
TENDER. the female lays FIVE eggs of a
light-green color, with brown spots and
bl0tehes.
The mocking-bird is particular as to
its food, and should be fed and watered
every day at the same hour. The cage
should be large and kept very clean,
with plenty of gravel at the bottom. Its
food should consist of the prepared
mocking-bird food, and during the
moulting season berries, grasshoppers,
spiders and occasionally meal worm
or two should be given. He should also
be kept out of draughts, and with these
precautions a bird viii live the average
life of ten years,
THE BULLFINCH,
which is native of Europe, has nc
natural song, but is gifted with the
ability of initiating, with wonderful &C
curaey in a sweet, flute-like tone, almost
any air that is whistled or played to ii
on an instrument, and this makes it 8
great favorite among lovers of birds.
The male has short, thick bill of q
black color, head large, neck short and
stout body, and is six inches in length.
The head, wings and tail are black, the
back dark gray, the breast blood-red,
the rump white, and the claws brown.
ish black. The female is smaller and
the plumage duller. She lays four OF
five eggs Of a blush or purplish white
speckled and streaked with purple an6
reddish brown.
The manner in which they are taught
20 sing is to take them from the nes
when young and place them in cage il
a darkened place, when the tune it il
desired they should learn is whistled t.
them several times a day, but principally
in the morning and evening. No othel
bird must be near them at the time.
Some birds can be taught couple o
tunes in three months, while others vii
take nine months; some again will only
learn part of tune and others will no
learn at ALL If they do not know thei
lesson by the time they are nine month
old they will never learn.
The bullfnch should be fed on sum
mer rape seed, to which may be adde,
little canary and hemp; sugar, swee
cake or such like delicacies spoil thei
tastes and should not be given. A littl
green stuff or sweet apple in water
good for them. The cage should nc
be over foot square, with flat TOP
They should be cleaned weekly an
given plenty of gravel. Those that Xix
to battle should be given an extra dis
OF cup filed with water for that pun
pose.
Their claws should be cut twice
year, but to do this they must be handle
very gently, as they are easily frigh
ened and harsh treatment often caust
their death.
The bird becomes very much attaehe
to his feeders and will, if alway
attended by one person, come out of tt
cage and perch on his finger ar
whistle at his command. Their gener
disorders are moulting. hoarseness an
epilepsy. They generally live from fiji
to six years, Wild bullfinehes sell fl
$3.50 each, but tanned ones are wori
from $40 to $50.
THE GoLDFLNCH.
This Is one of the handsomest of q
wild Nrds and the most admired of @
the finch family. 1t is 81 inches
length, the front of the head is a fiji
crimson, cheeks white, top of the hes
black, the back is brown and the und
part of the body whiteish. The wings a
black and yellow spotted; tail blac
with white spots.
This funny little fellow has such
way of turning his body rapidly fro
side to side as he utters his spright
notes as to be quite amusing and ente
tanning, and, like the canary and bul
finch, can be taught to do all kinds
tricks.
The best food TO give them is cana
and mawseed, to which should be oce
sionally added some green meat such
chickweed or lettuce. The cage shou
be the same as for the bullfinch al
should always be provided with plsn
Of water for bathing.
THE SKYLARK.
When caught young or brought fro
the nest the skylark makes a most e
cellent cage-bird. singing during t
whole winter, spring and summe
When caught old it seldom answers in
cage, being too timid and very difficr
70 tame,
1t should be fed with mixture
maWseed, bruised hemp-seed, powder
biscuit and 3 little hard-boiled e
chopped 6ne, to which may be added
little raw beef, lean and soraped fine,
couple Of meal worms. A little gre
1904 occasionally, chopped up, agre
with them. Some birds will also q