12 BIRD-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 



piece; about the bulk of a hazel nut is enough 

 for the day. 



They are very fond of what is commonly 

 called meal worms, which are found in pigeon- 

 houses, and grain stores. When I have them. I 

 give a bird two or three a day, but you cannot 

 procure them at all times even if you breed 

 them,* and the beef is a good substitute ; and 

 when you keep a bird, it is well to accustom him 

 to eat what you can procure at all seasons of the 

 year. Berries in summer, and small black cur- 

 rants in winter, and a sweet ripe apple, cut in 

 two, and one half put into the cage so as they 

 can eat out of the heart of it, is highly beneficial 

 to them. 



About the end of July or the beginning of Au- 



* To breed meal worms, take a jar or small pail that will contain 

 four or five quarts ; put in it about two quarts of manure from a 

 pigeon-house, a handful of meal worms, and about a pint of Indian 

 meal. Put on the top of this some woollen rags, and tie a piece of 

 cloth over the top ; then put it in a dry and warm place. Then you 

 must have some worms to begin with ; (but by the following method, 

 taken from an English work, which I have not yet tried, you can do 

 without :) In case you cannot procure meal worms, and they are some- 

 times very scarce, buy, or beg, from a vessel returned from a long 

 voyage, some stale ship biscuit, soak it in cold water, squeeze it 

 dry, and put it in a covered vegetable dish in a closet, or other warm 

 place. In a few weeks you will obtain an ample supply of meal 

 worms. 



