176 Mr. P. F. M. Galloway,


ON THE BEST SYSTEM OF FEEDING

INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS.


By P. F. M. Galloway.


(Concluded from page 147).


On the foods I have mentioned I have been able with very

little trouble to keep the swallow for over seven years, when it died

practically from old age, also the nightjar for just over five years.


Birds during the dull days of winter should be fed twice a

day. The first feed at about 8 a.m., the second and last feed at 3.30

p.m., but from and including May and on to September they should

be fed four times. I prefer to do this rather than give two large

feeds as the hot weather is liable to turn the food sour. At this

time of year I give the first feed at 6 am., second at noon, a scanty

meal again at 3 p.m., and the last feed at 6 p.m.; there will be just

a little left after the last feed which the birds will get at the first

peep of daylight, this would be about 3 a.m. It must be remem¬

bered that birds in the wild state would be feeding from sunrise to

sunset more or less.


Exercise.


This is very important. If birds are kept in an outdoor

aviary they will get abundance of exercise. If kept in cages (and

they can be kept in perfect condition in these) the cages should be

fairly roomy, a large one being far and away better than a small

one, but the large cage will be very little better than the small one

if a lot of perches are fixed in it. Two perches, one at each end and

one along the front rail where the food vessels are fixed, is quite

sufficient, the object being to give sufficient room between these, so

that the bird has to fly from one to the other. It is not hopping

exercise alone that is needed but wing exercise, and the latter is

entirely lost sight of in the wretched little cages one sees in the

bird-dealers’ shops.


Some birds, such as thrushes and blackbirds, will do well in a

moderate-sized cage, but birds, especially such as the gold-crested

wren, long-tailed tit and small warblers require, and should have, a

much larger one than would be necessary for a nightingale or black¬

cap, on account of their extreme activity. The two former in their



