8 



"delicate" birds (which after all are only rendered 

 ''delicate" by a faulty environiiient), can be kept 

 quite easily without ^%% food. 



(To be continued). 



cTbe Mbttc-CappeD Manager. 



By J. A. Swan. 

 {Continued from Vol. II., page 256). 

 '^^T'^I^NOTHER little weakness I used to sometimes 

 jh-j take advantage of was shown in the bird's 

 l»-J^ evident reluctance to begin breakfast with 

 ^ the insectivorous food. I would place this in 



the cage first and withhold the fruit, and it was quite 

 amusing to watch the struggle between his strong 

 desire to commence eating, and his equally strong 

 antipathy to begin with the diet provided. Backwards 

 and forwards he would fl}^ and sometimes nearly 

 overbalance himself in a sudden resolve to jump down 

 to the food, and as suddenly abandon the idea with 

 every appearance of repugnance. The second resolu- 

 tion generally caught him at a downward angle of 

 about 45° from his perch, and much chattering and 

 flapping of wings would ensue before he regained 

 his equilibrium. It was all very funny / thought, 

 though the bird seemed to miss the humorous side of 

 the affair altogether,and regarded the whole business 

 with great concern. I must give myself credit for 

 generally feeling rather mean while the per- 

 formance lasted, and the delighted *' quock" which 

 greeted the appearance of the fruit, and the avidity 

 with which it was attacked, left no doubt as to the 

 state of the bird's feelings. 



When S. leiccocephalus first came into my possess- 

 ion, he had a whole banana each day, and would not 

 touch the other food while any of this remained. After 

 a time, however, I gradually reduced this rather too 



