THE PI'TAS. 119 
species to the London Zoological Gardens, and also the 
still tinier Tickell’s Flower-pecker (Diceum erythrorhyn- 
chum) a plain drab bird with a flesh-coloured bill; the 
latter was the first bird of this family to reach England 
alive. A large cage is more suitable for birds like 
these than an aviary: they should be fed on soft food and 
a paste of hard-boiled yolk of eggs mixed up with honey 
and satoo or biscuit-crumbs. The Crimson-backed Flower- 
pecker is a remarkably greedy feeder for its size, like 
most small birds. The most charming thing about them 
is their extreme fearlessness of man; they will come on 
to one’s hand without hesitation when hungry, and 
altogether are delightful little pets, which I strongly 
recommend to anyone who can only keep such birds as 
will live in a cage small enough to be carried about. Of 
course care must be taken to shield them from cold ; if 
this be done they can be taken to England, and will always 
be welcome to fanciers there. I am glad to say that the- 
bird sent by Mr. Harper to the London Zoo lived for 
some time there. 
THE PITTAS. 
Few families of birds are more suited to be aviary 
pets than these, although as yet they are little known 
in that capacity. They are found, though not abundant 
birds, all through the warm parts of the Old World, usually 
keeping to jungle though coming into gardens. In size 
they are about equal to the smaller Mynahs, but in form 
and action more resemble the Thrushes, with which they 
used to be classed. Their bills are rather stouter than 
