on the best system of feeding insectivorous birds. 14 3


tity of cheese, live insect diet and a fair supply of nuts, such as the

Spanish, hazel, monkey nuts, and even beech masts and ripe acorns

in the autumn.


Nuthatches will do exceedingly well on the same diet, and,

like the common tits, will eat maize.


No 3 group.—Nightingale, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Redstarts,

Reed, Sedge and Willow Warbler, Woodwren, Chiffchaff,

Whitethroats, the various Chats, Wryneck, Dartford and

Grasshopper Warblers.


I should feed in the following proportions: to every table¬

spoonful of insectile mixture " when prepared moist hut crumbly, add

piece of the York cheese, about the size of a cob nut, chopped finely,

to this in season add a dessertspoonful of live ants’ eggs ; this is of

course for birds that are really meated off. I should give each bird

twice a day also three or four mealworms killed and cut in halves.


No. 4 group.—Long-tailed Tits, Golden-crested Wrens, Tree-

creepers and Jenny Wrens.


The same foods will do well, but all mealworms and wasp

grubs I always chop into small pieces as these species take their

food in small particles.


No. 5 group.—All species of Wagtails and Pipits.


Feeding is the same, in fact it will be noticed that nearly all

the birds mentioned I feed very much the same. Of course, such

birds as garden warblers and other fruit and berry-eating species,

in addition to the diet mentioned they should have, if the owner can

procure them in season, privet ivy, elderberries, and in summer

raspberries and ripe cherries, the latter can be cut up; the white-

heart cherry is a firm fruit and does not stain the perches, &c. with

the juice like black ones if the birds throw it about. When the

season, in the depth of winter, has settled most of the berries, the

banana, not too ripe, can be given.


The foods, then, that I use and call a stock food, consists of a

well-balanced insectile mixture. I, of course, use my own make and

York cheese chopped finely. This cheese is a white milk cheese

and has been used as food for soft-billed birds by others as well as



* Mr. Galloway’s insectivorous food “ Life ’’ is a most valuable mixture.—E d.



