106 PET BIRD.^ OF BENGAL 



the Ilarewa would always seek tlie inost 

 lighted corners. 



We have already said that its food 

 presents little difficulty. It is a hardy 

 bird with sound liver and adapts itself to 

 any ration. Formerly aviculturists in 

 Europe used to treat it, as regards its food, 

 much like the honey-suckers because their 

 contemporary ornithologists had wrongly 

 classed it as such. So that it was fed on 

 a sweetened diet. This is now considered 

 unnecessary. Being principally an insect- 

 eater, it will keep fit on plenty of insects 

 and larvae — ants' eggs, grasshoppers, etc.— 

 and fruits, of which banana is greatly re- 

 lished. Eich diet like the yolk of eggs 

 or minced meat should be sparingly used ; 

 otherwise it will bring on fits of hysterics. 

 It would accept without the least grumbl- 

 ing any soft food, satoo made into a pulp, 

 or bread and milk. It will also shift for 

 itself by capturing flies which may stray 

 too near the cage-bars. 



It is not generally subject to any 



