i66 



^bout a dozen iiiealworms instead of earwigs. The birds 

 are fond of fruit, but I do not give any now. I have been 

 recommended to give them green peas, but my birds will not 

 touch them. E. W. C. 



Answer. Success in the rearing of young Virginian Cardinals 

 is quite the exception. In fact, I am not aware of more than 

 half a dozen instances in which the young have survived, 

 though it is comparatively common for them to be hatched in 

 British aviaries. 



In addition to the food you are giving, I should supply egg 

 in some form— probably fresh eg^ and biscuit, such as you 

 would give to Canaries, would be the most readily taken. 

 If you can supply earwigs to an almost unlimited extent, 

 probably they will suffice— otherwise I should give mealworms, 

 and blackbeetles (if you can get them). 



You say "about a dozen mealworms" — I suppose you 

 mean a dozen per day. 



I should certainly give fruit freely while there are young, 

 as well as at other times, and plenty of green food. It is 

 strange that your Virginians will not eat green peas. 



I should be disposed to supply millet seed as well as 

 canary, because it is softer than canary seed. The "Indian" 

 millet or spray millet is !.he best, but I should offer some 

 white millet as well while there are young, though I do not 

 believe in it as a food for adult Cardinals. 



I rather question the wisdom of the raw meat, and should 

 be inclined to discontinue it. It may cause violent purging. 



H. R. F. 



YELLOW vSPARROWS. 



Quesiion. Please tell me, through " Bird Notes," all you 

 can about the Yellow vSparrows one sees advertised. Are they 

 hardy, and will they breed in confinement.' E. B. 



Ansivei . The bird generally intended when the name 

 Yellow Sparrow is used, is Passer luieus. In the male, the 

 whole of the head, neck, and underparts, are sulphur-yellow. 

 The back is chestnut, the quills and tail blackish edged with 

 pale brown. If it were not for the strong, black beak, the 

 bird would be much like a small variegated Canary. The 

 female is brown all over, with a slight wash of yellov/ in parts. 



