Krrphjp of f^nffhill'=! hi Cagr.9 147 



inert insect food, is (\-i11p(1 " iii(\itiii,2r ofT." Why "moatinpr off," 

 I do not know, luil flio iiaiiH^ iiin.v bo a sui-vivor of byerone 

 days, -wlion s()ffl)ills \v(M(> " inoatod-ofT " on hard boiled eg-g 

 and scrapod loan boof, oi- miUtoM; honcc "moating." 



Xothinu is .^nsici' tliim to mcat-olT a f]-(>slily-cau«bt 

 bird, bul T am afi-aid through the ignorance or thoughtlessness 

 of their purchaser many are added to the death roll every year. 

 First of all cover the entire front of Stock-cage with calico, 

 to keep the freshly-caught bird quiet, put water in the botto'm 

 of the cage, and s]>Tinkle some dried ants'-eggs on the top 'of 

 the water. On tho bird jnmpiufj about, these will move on 

 the surface Ibf the water, and he may eat them, also throw some 

 mealworms with heads brui'^ed on the cage bottom, and put 

 in a vessel Avith gentles, small mealworms, and a few earth- 

 worms (small): put your bird into the cage, and stand same 

 in a quiet and light place, and leave well alone. After an 

 hour see if the bird has partaken of some food, if it has, the 

 battle is won. but if it has not done so, and will not do so, 

 after another hour, then you must cram some of the live food 

 minced up down its throat, and be sure it swallows it, else 

 you will have a corpse next morning. Once a bird has taken 

 to feeding itself, it is easy enough to get it on to the stock - 

 food. All you have to do is to mix a little of it at first 

 with his live food, cut un some mealworms, and as particles 

 of the prepared food Avill adhere to same he will soon learn to 

 eat the latter. No more than you would like to be kept on 

 the same diet all the year round, would same agree with 

 the birds: it must be varied and varied according to the 

 seasons. During the winter months the stock -mixture answers 

 very well, but when the days lengthen, and as spring advances, 

 the caged soft-bills require some additional "live" insect 

 food to lay in some fresh stamina for the coming season, and 

 to assist them in getting well through the moulting period. 

 There is nothing better for this purpose than live ants*- 

 cocoons, and you should procure these, if possible a fresh 

 supply daily, as early as they can be obtained in April or 

 ATay. Do not change the birds' diet at once, that would result 

 in disaster, as already explained; Init sprinkle a few cocoons 

 at once in the morning, but give half then, and the other half 

 in the afternoon, otherwise the birds will over -eat themselves 



