124 



^be jfoot) of :Bir^5 iu daptivitv)- 



By H. R. Fir.LMKR. 



(Continued Jrom Vol. III. p. 137.) 



V. FRUIT OR POLI.EN-EATING BIRDS OTHRR THAN 



PARROTS. 



' ■^„^ HIS group includes (besides others) the Tanagers, 



f(7\ Bulbuls, Honey-eaters, Sugar-birds, Zosterops, 



V^ and some of the British Warblers (such as the 



Blackcaps and the two White-throats). All 



these birds require some good insectile food and also a 



regular and liberal supply of fruit. I shall consider 



the question of insectile foods under the next 



heading. 



The fruits most generally useful are apple, pear. 

 banana, and orange — some birds like one best, and 

 some another, and they generally enjoy best the fruit 

 to which they are most accustomed. 



Milk-sop is sometimes given to the birds in this 

 class, but after several j'ears experience of its use I 

 have abandoned it. It is unnecessary in all, or almost 

 all, cases, and has dangers and disadvantages which I 

 think outweigh its merits. 



As a rule, the birds of this group are not very 

 fond of mealworms — but they may be supplied to 

 those which will eat them. 



Although I have grouped together such different 

 birds as Tanagers, Sugar-birds, and Warblers, it must 

 not be assumed that they all require the same diet. It 

 is difficult to get the smaller Tanagers, and the Sugar- 

 birds, to eat an ordinary insectile mixture — often they 

 v^rill refuse almost everything except crumbled sponge 

 cake and fruit. Honey is not generally considered a 

 safe diet — but the only Yellow-winged Sugar-birds 

 which I have known to live and thrive in this country 

 were fed largely upon it, in fact a section of honey- 

 comb was always kept in their cage. 



