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Finches the day it emerged from the nest and shook it savagely. 

 The old birds heard the cry and came in from the outer flight 

 where they were " meal-worming," and that Zebra cock wished 

 he had not ! 



I suppose my feeding is the same as other aviculturists'. 

 But still, Sir, as you ask for my experiences, I think I had better 

 continue. 



My mode of procedure is as follows. I first go to the 

 young bird aviary (I have drafted all the young Finches and 

 Budgerigars into separate quarters) empty their seed vessels 

 (canary and white millet) into a sieve and replace their spray 

 of ear millet by a fresh one, and give them their quota of meal- 

 worms and fresh water. Then I carry on the same operations 

 with the Rufous-tails and in the Finch aviary, and after sifting 

 the grain, I give it to the Budgerigars together with some hemp 

 seed, and do not forget to replenish their supply of white oats- 

 and millet heads. 



I feed all the birds on the ground, and supply green food 

 ad. lib., but the Crimson Finches seem to care for nothing but 

 grass seed and this is none too plentiful in the late Autumn. 

 I take care to keep all seed vessels and baths scrupulously clean, 

 and wash them all out myself at least twice weekly, and, when 

 necessary, place them in the hands of the cook for a thorough 

 scald. I keep sea sand on the floor of the young birds' aviary, 

 and sea gravel on the floors and flights for the older birds. I 

 fancy this sand and gravel must be good for the birds for they 

 pick up a lot of it, and they are certainly in fine feather and 

 condition. 



I must not forget my friend " Bobs " — a Robin — who follows 

 me in my rounds, and is so tame he will sit on the edge of the 

 jam jar in which I convey the mealworms to his brethren in 

 captivity ; evidently hoping that he also will get his " lit hit''' — 

 in which I need hardly say he is never disappointed ! 



My Blue Bonnet Parrakeet — which I keep caged and move 

 into the verandah daily— is a handsome bird and very fairly tame. 

 I highly value him as he was a bird from the collection of my old 

 friend Mr. O. E. Cresswell, and was given me on Mr. Cresswell's 

 death by his sister. 



