tlie)^ should, where possible, be given a plentiful supply 

 of clean water. 



As regards the cage — this should, in my opinion, not 

 be an inch less than two feet long, b%^ ten inches wide, 

 and fifteen inches high ; the back being covered with 

 virgin cork. It should contain three perches. But I 

 consider that a Nuthatch will do far better in an outdoor 

 aviary, where he will be quite happy the whole year 

 round. A few cocoa-nut husks should be hung up at the 

 back near the top, and some virgin cork also fixed to the 

 back of the aviary. I have had a very nice example of 

 this species in my outdoor aviary since the end of 1897,' 

 and he always appears in the best of condition, and has 

 won for me a few prizes, including one at the Crystal 

 Palace Show of February, 1901. 



There is one point much in favour of the Nuthatch 

 and that is that it will not interfere with other occupants 

 of the aviary, although I have found it impossible to 

 keep more than one pair together : or even more than 

 one specimen with safety, as I have learned to my regret. 

 The sexes are as near as possible alike in plumage, and if 

 a mistake were made and two males placed together, 

 there would sure to be murder in a very short time. 



S. Sandy. 



"SILKWORMS AS BIRD FOOD." 



A paper read at a meeting of the N. B. B. &• M. C. 

 By John Frostick. 

 No doubt many of you have seen in " Bird Notes" 

 the correspondence under the above heading, between 

 the Countess Tomassi Baldelli and m3-self, referring to 

 what the Countess termed " Dried Silkworms." I re- 

 membered to have seen for the first time, some twelve 

 months ago, at Lord Wallscourt's house a quantity of 

 silkworm chrysalides or pupce from which the silken 

 cocoon had been removed after the insect had first been 

 killed in boiling water, and I came to the conclusion that 

 these must be what the Countess meant by dried silk- 

 worms, especially as Lord Wallscourt had obtained his 



