The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-05-01
vEATHERED SONGSTERS.

sraeticaI Instructions I'm the Care and
Management of Cage Birds-What
They are Worth and How long
They live.
THE MOCKING-BIRD.
The nightingale of America-the
moeking-bird- native of the South
eTn States, where thousands of them are
token from the nest before they are
aedged and reared by hand. They are
oite1 sold for fabulous prices, although
The general price for young ones is s.
e,e6 and for older birds from S12 to
S25.
During the breeding season, which
commences In March and ends in Sep
tender, the female lays five eggs of
lightrgreen color, with brown spots and
blotches
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
OF two should be given. He should also
DO kept out of draughts, and with these
precautions bird will live the average
Lie Of ten years,
THE BULLFINCH,
which is q native of Europe, has no
natural song. but is gifted with the
ability of initiating, with wonderful ac-
cllracy in a sweet, flute-like tone, almost
any air that is whistled or played to 1t
on an instrument, and this makes it
great fayorite among lovers OF birds.
The male has a short, thick bill of a
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 a brown
ish black. The female is smaller and
Che plumage duller. She lays four or
five eggs of blush or purplish white.
speckled and streaked with purple and
reddish brown.
The manner in which they are taught
to sing is to take them from the nest
when young and place them in cage in
a darkened place, when the tune it Is
desired they should learn is whistled to
them several times day, but principally
In the morning and evening. No other
bird be near them at the time.
Some birds can be taught couple of
tunes in three months, while others will
take nine months; some again will only
learn part of tune and others will not
learn at all. II they do not know their
lesson by the time they are nine months
old they will never learn.
The bnlltinch should be fed on sum-
mer rape seed, to which may be added
little canary and hemp; sugar, sweet
cake or such like delicacies spoil their
tastes and should not be given. A little
green stuff or sweet apple in water is
good for them. The cage should not
BE- over a foot square, with fiat top.
They should be cleaned weekly and
givenplenty of gravel. Those that like
TO battle should be given an extra dish
or cup filed with water for that pur-
pose.
Their claws should be cut twice q
year, but to do this they must be handled
very gently, as they are easily fright
enfN and harsh treatment often causes
their death.
Inc bird becomes very much attached
70 ms feeders and will, if always
attended by one person, come out of the
cage and perch on his finger anC
whistle at his command. Their genera
disorders are moulting, hoarseness anC
epilepsy. They generally live from tivt
. SIX years. Wild bullfnches sell fol
sz.oO each, but tanned ones are wortl
iFcin $40 to $50.
TIE GoLDFINCH.
Inns Is one of the handsomest of ell
wa ards and the most admired of al
me Inch family. It is 81 inches il
isngtn, the front of the head is fin
,I5llnson, cheeks white, top of the heat
Maek, the back is brown and the unde
Esttof the body whiteish. The wings ar
ulaek and yellow spotted; tail black
With white spots.
lns funny little fellow has sush
y OF turning his body rapidly from
aue 70 side as he utters his sprightl
Ivy, ao'cs as to be quite amusing and enter
sanlng, and, like the canary and bull
tricks. " Wv GU '>i-'>''
Inc best food to give them is canar
aaa mawseed. to which should be occa
a%usnslly added some green meat such q
la'ekweed or lettuce. The cage shout
e me same as for the bullfinch an
% always be provided with plent
@4ater for bathing.
v THE SKYLARK
4 4 Whsn caught young or brought frol
aa ~ nest the skylark makes most e.
] S sas cage-bird, singing during IL
q W s1'le winter, spring and summe
asa caught old it seldom answers in
~, being too timid and very difficu
= should be fed with mixture
sIawsesd, bruised hemp-seed, powders
s5 sss' ard q little hard-boiled es
tapped tne, to which may be added
ss raw beef, lean and scraped fine,
49, upie Of meal worms. A little gree
Ss IN occasionally. chopped up, agre
IVA mem, Some birds will also o