Foreign Birds 163 



even exceeded the probable ai^e they would have reached in 

 their wild state. I do not myself hold with the general opinion 

 that this is entirely due to the intelligence and knowledge we 

 ourselves show in dealing with our captives. That we 

 have discovered and use food which is suitable for them is 

 an undisputed fact; but that this is a natural food can easily be 

 disproved by a little investigation into their habits in a wild 

 and captive condition, and the question then, is why do we not 

 supply them with their proper food ? It is because, in a measure, 

 of our ignorance as to what comprises their natural nourish- 

 ment, and also because when we know the right food we are 

 unable to supply them with it. Take almost any species of what 

 we call seed-eating birds, and it will be found that by far the 

 larger part of their natural food consists of insects. We are, 

 therefore, at a great disadvantage in keeping such birds in the 

 best condition; but nevertheless, most of our seed-eating birds 

 so readily adapt themselves to circumstances, that they often 

 become as well nigh perfect in health and plumage as it is poss- 

 ible for them to be. Let me instance the Weavers, which are 

 pre-eminently seed-eating species according to our most learned 

 writers: " Only needing a few mealworms now and again to 

 keep them in condition." This we know to be true, yet I have 

 times without number seen my Weavers making ftmceasing 

 efforts to catch the common hotise fly. and woe betide the 

 unwary insect which ventures within the wires of the aviary. 

 I have also seen them minutely examining the crevices in the 

 wall, and the leaves of shrubs, while now and again they leave 

 their perch for an instant to dart seemingly into empty space, 

 then wheel about and return to their resting place ; the only 

 indication of the purpose of this apparently useless effort being 

 the satisfied manner in which they open and close their beaks 

 for a second or two. And if these birds are so keen over in- 

 sects in captivity, surely with no less avidity they make them 

 their principal food in freedom. 



Respecting insectivorous and fruit-eating birds. We are 

 able, to a very great extent, to supply the needs of the latter 

 with natural food, which is probably the reason why many of 

 these delicate creatures are more hardy, when acclimatized, than 

 some of the seed-eating species, which often suffer from consti- 



