57 



— these would be better without wliite millet and might 

 have a few hemp seeds now and then. The Nonpareil 

 and Indigo would want a mealworm now and then, or a 

 little egg food. Randoi^ph Ouin. 



QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 



" COIvIFlCHET." 

 Quesiiofi.— What is " coUfichet .? " J. H. H. 

 Answer. — It is a sort of gluten bread, made in France, 

 expressly, it is understood, for birds. It is sold b}' most 

 bird dealers in horseshoe-shaped rolls. It is similar to 

 the bread made for sufferers from diabetes. It is more 

 easily digested by insectivorous birds than ordinary bread 

 or biscuit, and is non-fattening. It is easily crumbled to 

 powder in the hands, and can then be mixed with other 

 ingredients. 



BREEDING BUNTINGvS. 



Question. — Can any one tell me what small foreign 

 temale bird would mate wdtli a *• Nonpareil " (or 

 " Mexican Canary," as it is called in Mexico) } I had 

 several brought over, both cocks and hens, but all have 

 died except two cocks, and I am told that the hens will 

 not live in England. I have Canaries, Nonpareils, and 

 Budgerigars in an out door aviarv. The place is not 

 heated, it faces south, and half of it is covered in with 

 glass, and on very cold nights I put a shutter up. The 

 birds are in excellent health ; they have a bath twice a 

 week and always plenty of spray millet and green food, 

 besides canary seed and white millet. I am verv anxious, if 

 possible, to breed from the Nonpareils, if there is a 

 foreign female bird that I could put with them in the 

 aviary. The plumage of the birds that I have now is 

 perfect, and they all look bright and happ}' and never 

 mope. J. F. 



Answer. — The Nonpareil is a Bunting. The onh' 

 ver}' nearly allied species of which you would be able to 

 obtain a female is the Indigo Buuting. It would pro. 



