328 



With this group of Parrots, even with Swainsoii's, 

 I always try and induce them to take milk sop, though 

 the latter species will exist for a good period on canary 

 seed alone ; at the same time my experience teaches me 

 that they are the better, and longer-lived, for a little 

 milk-sop. It will be as well to remark here, that for 

 fruit or pollen-eating birds or Parrots kept in cages in 

 rooms, the cage should stand in a tray much larger 

 than the cage, as the excreta is mosth' ejected outside 

 the cage. 



For such species as Honey Suckers, Sugar Birds, 

 etc., — that is all other species than the Lories and 

 Lorikeets ; the diet already mentioned should be given. 

 Personally I am no advocate of the honey diet, and if 

 such be offered I certainly advocate it being given 

 frequently and in narrow mouthed vessels or tubes, 

 also that a small quantity of meat extract be mingled 

 with it. The milk sop, stewed fruit (rather liquid 

 and well sweetened), an occasional mealworm and 

 some insectile mixture somewhat as follows : dried 

 flies, ant.s' cocoons, and sponge cake, moistened with 

 mashed banana or a little milk. This is rather 

 "messy" preparing, and for those not caring for 

 the bother, the insectile food named in the opening 

 chapter will answer the purpose, but half its bulk 

 should be crumbled sponge cake. 



Boiled rice (sweetened) is also given to the Lories 

 and Lorikeets and may be used as a change with 

 advantage. 



Nearly all this group resent a sudden change of 

 diet, and when purchasing it is highly important to 

 ascertain how they have been fed, and however un- 

 wholesome this may appear to be, it must be supplied 



