52 pRACTiCAT, Bird-Keeping. 



— the Bobolink, which assumes a special nuptial plumage, after 

 the manner of Weavers of the genus Pyrojuelana. In their 

 nidification \\\^ Icteridcs ^x^ quite as varied as the Finches, both 

 with respect to the position and character of their nests; much 

 more so, indeed, than the Sturiiidce, the majority of which breed 

 in holes: the Eulabetidce also build their nests in holes. 



If one wishes to breed these birds, it is of course necessary 



to acquaint oneself with their natural methods of nidification ; 



and, as nearly every group of the IcteridcB has its own method, it 



will be necessary to consider each separately. So far few attempts 



have been made to breed the New World Starlings in captivity, 



owing probably to the difficulty of securing both sexes, so that 



they offer a very promising field of enterprise to aviculturists. 



The imported Iderida are referable to five sub-families, the 



first of which AgelcB7iincB includes the Meadow Starlings and 



Marsh Troupials, Maize-eaters, and Cow-birds, all of which can 



be kept upon a seed-diet ; but the more slender-billed forms, for 



which I have reinstated the generic name Aoelasiiais, do not live 



long upon that food, but need to be treated like Bulbuls, Tanagers 



and other fruit-eating insectivorous birds ; they also dififer from 



the broader billed species in their more confiding nature, which 



renders them suitable subjects for keeping in roomy cages, 



whereas the Bobolink and other Meadow Starlings as well as the 



Cowbirds require a moderate-sized aviary to render them happy. 



The soft food which I supply to all my insectivorotis birds 



and which I have found more successful than any other in 



keeping them in health for many years, consists of two parts 



crumb of stale household bread, one part chicken -meal ground 



in a coffee-mill, one part Trower's "Improved Cekto " and one 



part hard-boiled egg passed through a metal potato masher : I 



mix the whole together in a bason and damp with water to a 



crumbly consistency. All my Starlings receive a handful of this 



mixture daily, together with a quarter of an orange or pear, about 



an inch of banana and two or three grapes when obtainable ; 



strawberries or currants may also be given when they are in 



season, and any insects, their larvae or pupse, as well as spiders, 



which may come to hand. 



Although, as I have said, it is possible to keep the more 



