79 



not this evidence of reasoning powers — or is it what 

 we call instinct ? I prefer to believe it is the former, 

 and that the bird recognises those it knows to be 

 friends. 



The Nonpareil, as it is generally called, is a 

 semi-insectivorous bird (though so are all birds in 

 ni}^ opinion), and in addition to seeds, should always 

 have soft food every da}'. If this is not given, the 

 bird suffers terribly from constipation, and will then 

 have to be caged off, and fed on bread and milk for a 

 week ; to prepare this, pour the milk over the bread 

 and then squeeze the latter until it is only moist. 

 Under this treatment the bird will immediately regain 

 its health, and the owner must try and stop a 

 recurrence of the complaint. With the next specimen 

 I obtain I am going to try a wholly insectivorous diet, 

 for I believe this will be more suitable for it in 

 captivity, than one containing seeds. 



The Nonpareil is not expensive, 6/- to 8/- being a 

 reasonable price — and, if properl}^ looked after, is 

 fairly long lived. A specimen I had, lived over three 

 years in a large flight cage, and at the end died in ni}^ 

 hands. Poor little bird ! I was grieved over his 

 loss — he was such a confiding little thing, and seemed 

 to know, to the last, that I was trying to do him good. 



The Nonpareil has been often bred in captivit}^ — 

 but the great difficulty is to obtain hens — which are 

 comparatively seldom imported. They are bright 

 green in colour — pretty in themselves— but over- 

 shadowed by the gorgeous plumage of the male. 



No foreign bird is a greater adept at seizing the 

 slightest opportunity to escape from its cage or 

 aviar}'. Members will remember the instance given 

 on page 26 of the present volume. Once, before I had 

 learnt of this little trait, I had, when feeding the 

 birds, turned for an instant to reach something, leaving 



