63



GRASS SEED FOR GOULDIAN FINCHES.


Mrs. R. H. Gosling presents her compliments to Mr. Cresswell,

and will be glad to know, in reference to Mr. Wiener's letter on Gonldian

Finches’ food, whether the grass seed Setaria glauca would answer in

winter, procured from a seedsman, and given with millet, or whether the

birds would only eat it in the ear, and could then only have it given to

them for a short time each year, when the grass seed was ripe.


The following reply has been sent to Airs. Gosling :


No definite reply can be given. The frequently considerable

mortality of Gonldian Finches, the occurence of egg binding, and the

production of eggs without shells, point to the insufficiency of the usual

food consisting of canary seed and spray millet. The fresh ears of Setaria

glauca were tried with great success only quite recently. Since then I

have given dried ears of the same grass, but found that the birds did not

pick the dried ears as eagerly as they did the fresh. On the other hand I

noticed that, when the bunch of dry ears was removed for the purpose of

cleaning the cage, the Gonldian Finches eagerly picked the fallen grains out

of the sand.


It should be well worth trying the effect of adding a little Setaria

glauca seed to the food of Gonldian Finches. The results of one experi¬

ment with any food are scarcely conclusive evidence, because birds differ

individually to some extent. In estimating results it should also be borne

in mind that birds, in a state of nature, do not eat the same seeds all the

year round. It would not astonish me if it were found that the eagerness

of birds for some kinds of food varied somewhat with the seasons.


As observation in a cage can be much more close than in an aviary,

and Gonldian Finches are mostly kept in cages, it is to be hoped that

owners of these beautiful birds will publish the results of their observations.


Aug. F. Wiener.


F.S. Carbon copy and a few ears of Setaria glauca were sent to Airs.

Gosling.



Sir, —I have read with great interest Air. Wiener’s account of

his Gouldian Finches, and of the good effect the grass-seed Setaria glauca

had upon them. I have seven cocks and five hens, which fly about the bird-

room. They only go to their cage to rest, and they generally nest in it also.

Three of these birds I have had for four years, the others I got only a year

ago. The hens have uever looked in as good feather as the cocks. They

have all moulted regularly in the spring, and up to a few weeks ago they

were in magnificent plumage. Two of them are now losing the feathers

round the beak and back of the head, and two of them have a sort of white

cheesy growth at the corners of the mouth. I have had to separate the hens

in a cage by themselves, for I found their mates were continually fighting

over them and maltreating them. They made a nest lately in a cocoa nut

husk and several eggs were laid, but they were all thrown out and broken,

and most of them were soft-shelled. Twice I saved a hen, who was egg-

bound. I should be very much obliged if you would tell me if Setaria glauca

is to be had in this country, and where ? I have always given my Gouldians

flowering grass every day, when it is to be had, and I find tliev are verv

fond of fresh chickweed, and every other day I give them a teaspoouful of



