82 



fVarblers, &c. but even these \vith due attention may be safely con- 

 veyed to this countj-y. Frcsii nieat finely scraped, hurd eggscut into 

 small pieces, bread, biscuit, or barley meal, mixed \vith milk, or vvith 

 water in wliich fresh meat has been boiled, will ali'ord a nutritious, 

 and at most times an available food : when pounded and mi.\ed 

 more or less together, until they assume the consislence of pašte or 

 honey, these ingredients will suffice even Ibr the most delicate of the 

 IVarblers. Ants'-eggs, vvhicli are abundaht in all tropical cliinateSj may 

 be preserved in ajar well tied down, and wiih the addition of the 

 Blattce or Cock-roaches, so generally attainable on board ship in all 

 their stages of grovvth, and of tlie Meal-worms, which are eąually 

 abundant in the bread-room, they will occasionally atford an acceptablc 

 treat to these birds on their voyage. It is even to be hoped thai, \vith 

 due attention to their vvants, the Huinming Birds of America may be 

 brought to this country and be exhibited in our conservatories. It 

 has been ascertained that tiiey can be supported for some time at least 

 in confinement on honey or sugar and vvater ; and a further trial may 

 vvith some prospect of success be attemptedto introducethem, as well 

 as all the corresponding groups of Meliphagoiis Birds of Australia 

 and the old world. 



The Comnuttee do not wish to include in the present Report any 

 reference to the subject of the importation and breeding of Fish. The 

 subject is one \vhich requires much inquiry at home, and still further 

 correspondence abroad. And as the plans of the Society are not yet 

 sufficiently ripe forenteringupon any practical experiments, the Com- 

 mittee think it advisable to reserve their observations on this subject, 

 which in the present statė of their Information would necessarily be 

 imperfect, for a future and a separate report. 



There are various other Animals, not included among the foregoing 

 groups, \vhich vvould be highly acceptable to the Society, but vvhich 

 the Comniittee do not include in the listsubmitted to the Council, lest 

 they should appear tooverload it with too many and too particular re- 

 commcndations. They \vill therefore refer to them generally. Manyof 

 the Reptiles vvould be valuable ; more particulary the different species 

 of Tortoises and Lizards. Some of the Molluscous Animals also might 

 be introduced vvith advantage and interest, such as the larger land 

 Snails, and the freshivater Bivalves. Various Insects also, the foreign 

 species of Bees for example, vvith their nests, and the larger šilk bear- 

 ing Moths* of India and North America, if imported in a livingstate, 

 vvould be so many accessions to science. All these andsimilar animals 

 might be easily kept alive in our conservatories, and in addition to 

 their scientific value vvould be objects of extreme attraction. Eggs 

 of birds also, carefully packed in some soft substance vvith either end 

 upvvards, may be sent to this country, vvith some prospect of an ad- 

 vantageous resull. But the Committee mušt content themselves 

 vvith this general reference and recommendation, and leave the follovv- 

 ing-up of the suggestionsto the kindnessand discretion ofthe friends 

 and correspondents of the Society. 



• Moths should be sent over in the pupa statc. 



