18 Mr. Bartlett on jjreparing Birds for Shijjment. 



Insects. — These are eaten by most birds. A few are good for 

 them, such aseartli-wormSjCaterpillarSj meal-worms, flies, maggots, 

 grasshoppers, &c. Do not, however, adopt the too frequent use 

 of Hving food, as birds are apt to crave after this kind of food 

 and to refuse to eat that prepared for them. Snails can be kept 

 for a long time ; and as they form a large portion of the food of 

 Thrushes in a wild state, their use is recommended, as they can 

 be chopped up and mixed with the other kinds of food. 



Cheese can be occasionally given with the other food, but 

 sparingly. In the event of liver or other animal substances 

 failing, cheese (ground or minced fine) will answer. 



I have now spoken of the various kinds of animal and vegetable 

 food best adapted for these birds. It is necessary to add a few 

 words about the cages which I have found most suitable for con- 

 taining the captives during the voyage. Each cage need not 

 be more than eight inches square j the bottom part being- 

 formed like a tray, one inch and a half deep. In the front 

 part of this tray is a division of one inch and a half wide; 

 this division is again divided into two parts, the one on the 

 right three inches and a half long, the one on the left four 

 inches and a half long, — the former coated with pitch and 

 made to hold the water, the other division to contain the food. 

 These trays or bottoms are made to hook on to the cage by two 

 hooks and eyes, the bottom of the upper part of the cage being 

 furnished with bars across, from side to side, close enough to 

 prevent the bird getting through. The front part of the cage, 

 over the feeding and water trough, is carried an inch more 

 forward at the bottom than the back or sides of the cage, 

 which enables the bird to obtain the food without difficulty, and 

 the food and water are by this projection kept clear of the dirt 

 of the bird. A perch also is required, nearly in the middle of 

 the cage, from side to side. 



