Correspondence, Notes, etc.



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As in the case of sand, it does not do to give the birds food which

they will be likely to mess about with before eating (the paper makes this

all right), but Herr Fries feeds his insectivorous birds (Nightingales,

Sprossers, Blue-throated Warblers, etc.) entirely on the mixture already

mentioned—“ Lucullus ”—and there is with that no need for the bird to

put the food in the tray. There was every possible sign that this food is

extremely beneficial. Herr Fries is most particular with regard to the

ants’ eggs (cocoons), etc., which go towards making this mixture.


When his more delicate insectivorous birds are moultiug, he gives

them nothing except quite fresh “ants’ eggs,” which of course in the

neighbourhood of the Taunus Mountains and the Black Forest are easilv

found. Then when the moult is over, he gradually reintroduces amongst

the fresh ants’ eggs the “Lucullus” mixture until the latter once more

reigns supreme. He has won several medals for this food ; and he tells me

that he does send some to England.


I bought of him a beautiful Blue-throated Warbler (a white-spotted

one with an extra large white spot) which is now nearing the completion of

it’s moult as I write, in the middle of August. The bird is in splendid

condition, his feathers tight up, and his legs and feet beautifully clean and

slender. He certainly seems none the worse for having been four months

without any sand.


At the Zoological Gardens at Frankfort, all the insectivorous birds (a

very interesting collection) are fed on “Lucullus.” Amongst them there

are Long-tailed Titmice, Golden-crested Wrens, Black Redstarts, Great

Reed Warbler, Alpine Accentors, Golden Orioles, and many others.


Another German bird-dealer (not mentioned, I fancy, in Mr.

Kestermann’s list) is


J. M. Hoeffliu,


Konradstrasse, No. 4,


Freiburg,


Baden.


His birds are kept in very’ good condition, and amongst them I saw a

Thrush, whose exact name I was uncertain of. He told me it is a Chinese

bird. It was too old, or I would have bought it. The general upper

plumage was pale grey, and the under plumage (speaking sketchily !) was

pale chestnut. I remember seeing the bird figured in Sharpe’s “Mono¬

graph of the Turdidae,” but have not the work by me at the present.


In conclusion I may add that the German bird-dealers, so far as I

have seen, set our English ones an example which some of them might

with advantage follow (both for the sake of the birds and the customers),

namely, the example of cleanliness, which is a natural part of what with

the Germans one sees so evidently shewn forth. I mean thoughtfulness

for the bird’s welfare.



