will not touch rape or hemp, and in such cases it is 

 sometimes vahiable. 



Inga seed has been denounced as highly danger- 

 ous—but it is doubtful to what extent this condem- 

 nation is deserved. 



Lhiseed, again, is a seed which has been strongly 

 condemned by some writers — but which is often given 

 to Linnets, Goldfinches, and other British finches. 



As to these three last mentioned seeds, maw, inga, 

 and linseed, I confess that I have but little personal 

 experience of their use, and therefore feel incompetent 

 to express a decided opinion about them. I should 

 advise caution in their use, especially in the case of 

 caged birds — for birds in an outdoor aviary can often 

 digest, and thrive upon, food which would be injurious 

 to birds in cages. 



Teazle is difficult to obtain in good condition — 

 but when really good it is a most useful seed for 

 Goldfinches. 



Buntings and Virginian Cardinals should have a 

 few meahvorms, and so may the more insectivorous 

 finches such as Chaffinches, but as a rule I am sure 

 that the small seed-eaters are better without them. 

 Even Buntings should receive them in strict 

 moderation. 



All the finches and Weaver-finches are more or 

 less insectivorous, and most of them are better for an 

 occasional variation from their plain seed diet. Of 

 course, the need for insectivorous food, or some 

 substitute for it, varies in the case of each species ; 

 some, like the Redpoll for instance, are almost exclu- 

 sively seed-eaters, while others, like the crestless 

 Cardinals, are quite half insectivorous. The dangers 

 of egg-food have been pointed out to us by Dr. 

 Creswell, and I, for one, have entirely abandoned the 

 use of egg for birds, but it is comparatively easy to 



