Introductory Notk. xi. 



their allies make their principal meal, as every sportsman knows, 

 in the morning and evening. Insectivorous birds and seed- 

 eating birds, such as finches, feed on and off all day. A supply 

 of food must, therefore, be always left within their reach. The 

 principle on which these birds feed is " little and often " ; they 

 pick up a bit here and a bit there as they feel inclined. 



In feeding, the great thing to aim at is variety ; have 

 some one staple food and vary it with others as much as possible, 

 As it is difficult to get insects, several patent "insect" foods are 

 in the market ; antpupa and yolk of egg form the basis of some 

 of these. A good many insect-eating birds, and of course many 

 others, will take fruit, but this must be given with discretion. 

 A hint may be taken from the gardener's list; the fact that such 

 widely differing species as the jaj% hawfinch, blackbird, titmouse, 

 and whitethroat attack fruit, will suggest that fruit may be given 

 in its season and green food all the 3'ear round. Yet common 

 sense will dictate care in such food in the case of birds in small 

 cages, who are debarred from much exercise and also from find- 

 ing the great variety of food at command of the wild bird, when 

 one food may neutralize another that might otherwise be in- 

 jurious. 



In the dietar}' of many birds few things are more important 

 than grit and salt. Every bird that possesses the grinding mill 

 called a gizzard, requires a supply of grit for the proper tritura- 

 tion of its food. In larger birds, such as pheasants, quartz chips 

 will be used, while little birds will pick up grains of sand. 



We all know the importance of salt in a human being's 

 food. It is important for two reasons; because being an alkali it 

 neutralises undesirable acids apt to be created by decomposition 

 of food, and, further, because it goes to the formation of hydro- 

 chloric acid, an active agent in digestion. Birds that feed on the 

 ground require salt especially and should always have a lump of 

 rock salt lying on the grave! of the enclosure; the salt will melt 

 and the birds will pick up the saline grit. 



Health. Given proper attention to food and cleanliness, 

 there still remain points that are of scarcely less moment. 

 Among these are bathing and dusting. All birds take a bath 

 of some kind, some in sand or dust, some in water, and others 



