3o6 



lyiNSEED or Flax : This also should be gloss}', 

 plump, and sweet ; reject any which is dusty. 



NiGA or Inga : Personally I do not recommend 

 its use save very occasionally, and almost any seed, 

 not actually poisonous, may be so used, that is, in 

 small quantities at longish intervals. It enjoys so bad 

 a reputation that I have never used it, even as an occa- 

 sional item of the viejiu of my birds. A good sample 

 should be shiny black in colour and free from dust. 



Teazle, Dandelion and Thistle : These are 

 more in use for British birds than foreigners, never- 

 theless some of the Cardinals and Finches take fairly 

 freely of them, and for such as will eat them, a small 

 quantity occasionalh^ makes a not unwholesome 

 change. These seeds seldom come to hand in a 

 thoroughly clean condition and should be well sifted 

 before being served out to the birds. 



Maw Seed : Many species that will not touch 

 rape will eat a little maw seed, and it forms an agree- 

 able change, an important item with seed-eaters, for it 

 is none too easy to var\' their vieiui to any great extent. 

 A good sample should be of a bright blue colour. 



Seed heads of Mignonette, Marigold, Lettuce, 

 Oats and Indian Corn, should be grown by all the fortu- 

 nate possessors of gardens, and in a half-ripe condition 

 are very valuable for all species of foreign birds. 



Personally, with all the species of the FringillidiB 

 I have kept, speaking at random, certainly more than 

 loo species, I do not know of an exclusive seed-eater, 

 and in a state of nature, especially when feeding young, 

 insects are more or less freel)^ taken. Silverbills have 

 been declared by more than one writer to be exclusive 

 seed-eaters. I have both the African and Indian 



