240 



I. Seed-eaters. 



Comprising : Grosbeaks, true Fiuches, Buntings, 

 Grassfinches, Maunikins, Waxbills, Whydahs, and 

 Weavers. 



Canary Seed must be a standard food in every 

 aviary or bird-room, and rightly or wrongly, I always 

 have more hope of a long life for the birds I see 

 eating it freely. Do not purchase cheap stuff, purchase 

 the best and only from a reliable firm. As to what 

 constitutes good and bad seed I do not purpose enter- 

 ing into, as Mr. Fillmer, in Vol. III. Bird Notes, has 

 already done so. 



White M11.1.ET, — This I have also used ad lib., and 

 never found any ill effects therefrom, though some 

 aviculturists deprecate its use, and possibl}' rightly so ; 

 nevertheless it occupies a prominent place in my bill 

 of fare, and with an equal bulk of canary seed forms 

 one of my standard mixtures. It is certainly eaten by 

 the birds more readily than the Indian variety. 



Indian Millet is a valuable seed, and some of 

 it should always be supplied, along with the white. 

 I ma5^ add that the latter is much harder to shell 

 than the former. Indian millet is a si7ie gica non for 

 immature birds, in which state many foreigners reach 

 this country. Nevertheless, I find that with maturity 

 the Indian millet is left alone so long as the supply of 

 white holds out; when supplied in a mixture, equal 

 parts of Indian and white, the leavings next morning 

 invariably consist of the Indian variety. It is also 

 sold as French millet, some only know it by this 

 name. 



Spray Millet : This appears to be Indian or 

 French millet in the ear, and I consider this a very 



