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pared with their combined weights : First day, 1.0 of their own 

 weight ; second day, 1.1 ; third day, 1.3 ; fourth day, 1.7 ; fifth day, 

 1.5; sixth day, 1.3; seventh day, 1.2; eighth day, 1.0; ninth day, 

 .9 ; tenth day, .9 ; eleventh day, .7 ; or, in other words, the average 

 eaten during each of the eleven days was 1.107 of their own 

 weight. The comparative quantity eaten after the birds are 

 seven or eight days old, considering them as three days old when 

 gotten, thus diminishes as seen above. As adults, they will eat 

 between .2 and .4 of their own weight, depending somewhat upon 

 the quality of food given, highly nutritious foods being eaten in 

 smaller quantities. The average daily rate of growth for the 

 eleven days was about . 2 of the amount of food taken. 



Warmth is quite essential in the raising of young birds. If 

 they become chilled thoroughly when young, it may retard the 

 growth several days or stunt it entirely, as was the case with a 

 half-grown robin which for two weeks gained only five grams 

 and never attained normal size. Direct sunlight was found to be 

 too hot and would cause birds to pant, but if shaded with a piece 

 of loose basket-work they seemed to receive the desired amount 

 of warmth. For covering at night, a piece of flannel proved to 

 be as satisfactory as anything. I generally used a piece of skin 

 of a flying-squirrel. 



Like the young of other birds, when overheated the Ampelidae 

 spread their wings and stretch out their necks against the sides 

 of the nest, but fold their feathers tightly. When cold, these 

 young birds in the nest lie facing each other; when warm, they 

 lie indifferently; and when overheated lie facing away from each 

 other. 



Cleanliness is next to feeding in importance. It is no use 

 trying to get young birds to grow normally unless they are kept 

 absolutely clean. A filthy or even dirty nest is never found in 

 nature, the parent birds removing every bit of foreign matter 

 that it liable to foul it. In spite of all efforts, it is next to im- 

 possible to keep a nest absolutely clean, when kept in the house, 

 for more than two or three days at a time ; especially if the young 

 are not entirely healthy and the functions of excretion occur ir- 

 re.gularly, instead of at feeding time. Berry boxes, half filled with 

 hay, with a layer of fine excelsior on top, proved to be quite satis- 

 factory as an artificial nest. The nest should not be deeper than 

 is necessary to keep the young birds together, and warm. The 

 nesting was generally changed once a day by removing the excel- 

 sior and adding fresh excelsior. For disinfection and to prevent 



