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leading name of locust meal, but lie has left England, 

 and I have to import mine direct from Germany.* I 

 buy, under the name of " Uyiiversalfiitter'' a mixture 

 consisting of silkworms, ants' eggs, and dried flies, 

 which costs me about i/- per lb., and parcel postage in 

 addition. I generally add to this some more ants' eggs, 

 and serve it to the birds slightly damped with boiling 

 water — sometimes adding a little crushed Osborne 

 biscuit. Instead of using water the mixture may be 

 moistened with a very little salad oil, and the birds 

 appear to prefer this. It has the advantage of forming 

 a mixture much less liable to turn "sour" than a 

 damped food. I cannot say that I have ever observed 

 any bad results from the use of the oil — though it is a 

 somewhat unnatural food, and I am told it is not 

 scientifically correct. [The effects would not be im- 

 mediate, and would not be recognisable until the after- 

 death examination. The giving of fatty matters in 

 excess of natural supplies to birds in captivity cannot 

 fail to be detrimental to the health of the digestive 

 organs. The writer of the article grasps this principle 

 perfectly when speaking further on of ^%%. — Ed.]. 

 Fruit should always be given to any birds which will 

 eat it. Mealworms and other live insect food should 

 be supplied freely, and this, being a strictly natural 

 diet, can scarcely be overdone. 



It will be noticed that I have made no mention of 

 egg in any form. I have used none for my own birds 

 for about two years, and have no intention of ever 

 using it again. It is at all times a dangerous substance 

 in the bird room or aviary, and, being quite un- 

 necessary, it is much better to do without it. Apart 

 from its disadvantages as a harbourer and intensifier 

 of the germs of septic disease, it is too concentrated 

 and fattening a food for adult birds. 



* The dried pupae can be obtained direct from Messrs. Grilli Bros., 

 (Fratelli Grilli), Via Ghibellina, Florence, Italy. For 4/7 they will send 5 

 kilograms, about lolbs.^ post free. —Ed. 



