196 



could hardly believe that such lovely birds could live 

 altogether ou seed, contrary to the usual thing out here 

 at any rate ; worse luck, my frequent absence prevents 

 my keeping anything but seed-eaters. However I 

 found to my relief that my trouble in collecting small 

 insects of various sorts was quite wasted. Egg, cake, 

 &c., were left alone. Excellent millet (like the Indian 

 but fuller) was locally procurable, canary seed I got up 

 from India, and in season there was any amount of 

 green stuff and flowering grasses, which were greedily 

 eaten. Crushed egg-shell simply vanished. Grit of 

 course was given. On the above treatment they throve 

 very well, and I have not altered it much since with 

 the aid of books and further experience. Rock salt I 

 knew nothing of at the time, and have not given 

 since, as the birds seem to get on very well without it. 

 I think its place is largely taken by cuttle-fish bone, in 

 which I am a great believer. I give a good deal of 

 cuttle now, and it is simply gorged, especially during 

 the moult and in the breeding season. I had none in 

 Chitral or should have given it there, I also now 

 give bread and milk, and have done so since the 

 Gouldians' first breeding season. At this season and 

 in the moult they do love a good deep drink at the 

 milk, never touching the bread, and I am sure it does 

 them good. Judging from my own experience it 

 probably is not good for the typical finches, but I 

 strongly believe in it for Grass-finches, &c. Perhaps 

 I need hardly add that milk is always boiled out 

 here. 



To get back to these particular birds : — the 

 commissariat godown was ransacked to provide a 

 bigger cage, and everyone was much interested in the 

 Humming-birds as many thought they were. A tea-box 

 (3ft. by ift. by ijft. high) formed the frame, and a lucky 

 find of a bit of ^ inch mesh wire netting served for the 

 front, the ubiquitous kerosine oil tin provided a tray, 

 and after the addition of two little boxes and some 



