178 



and dried ant cocoons. '^' These are well mixed and 

 kept in a dry place in a wooden box. The portion for 

 the day's use is given in an enamelled dish, slightly 

 moistened with water. This moistening with water I 

 have adopted tentatively, pending a complete eluci- 

 dation of certain difficulties. It may be that I shall 

 continue to adhere to it for aviary birds, but in 

 the case of birds that are kept in cages I prefer on 

 all grounds to give it dry. A Whitethroat, which I 

 had to isolate in order that he might get a new suit of 

 clothes after a series of encounters with an aggressive 

 Flycatcher and an equally quarrelsome Titlark, has 

 done remarkably well on it without any moistening ; 

 and this by the way is the method adopted from time 

 immemorial by the Chinese aviculturists, who accord- 

 ing to Mr. F. Finn, have nothing much to learn in 

 these matters. 



In addition to the insectile food there is always 

 provided a hopper of either canar}^ or millet seed. 

 Many insectivorous birds, e.g. the L,iothrix and the 

 Hedge Sparrow, by no means neglect the use of hard 

 graminaceous foods. 



Gentles and mealworms are given freely when I 

 have them. Both are valuable articles of diet, though 

 for some unaccountable reason the latter are credited 

 with giving sore feet ! 



The reasons against their use adduced by various 

 people do not hold good when critically examined : 

 but here I will content myself with quoting two bird 

 keepers of great experience. In the Aviciiliural 

 Magaziiie, Vol. VII., page 194, the Rev. C. D, Farrar 

 says : — " Guide books tell us that mealworms are too 

 stimulating I have had a fairly large ex- 

 perience and no mean measure of success, and I say 



* There is another insectile article of food which may be used with 

 advantage, in place of the ant cocoons, viz., the dried pupae of the silkworm 

 moth.— VV. G. C. 



