8o. PKACTiCAr, Bird-Kekping. 



the young from year to year, but I do not recollect to have heard 

 that cry except in that particular wood. 



The Crow tribe are practically omnivorous, and will not 

 thrive on any one food ; unfortunately for them they are more 

 carnivorous in spring and early summer. The Raven appears 

 to be the most carnivorous, but even he must have abundaut 

 variety in his diet. None of them are birds that have a feed and 

 fill themselves ; all are birds that are feeding on and oflf the 

 whole day. Food is buried and dug up again, hidden in trees, 

 covered over with clods of earth, but I don't believe that any 

 hoard is ever forgotten. I can imagine no worse way of feeding 

 these birds than one which is commonly adopted, viz., to give a 

 lump of raw flesh ! If flesh is given it should be either in the 

 form of a bird or mouse, or a skull or bone, or in some cases, 

 such as the Cissas, tropical Jays, etc., finely chopped meat mixed 

 with other food, mealworms, etc. Eggs, so popular in a wild 

 state, do not seem to be much relished in captivity, at any rate 

 by some species, and I have given Starlings. Blackbirds and 

 Thrushes eggs, day after day, to Choughs, Azure-winged Mag- 

 pies {Cyanopica looki), Siberian Jays, etc., and they took little 

 notice of them. 



All the Crow tribe are very great bathers, and must be 

 most liberally supplied with fresh water. With plenty of exercise 

 and occupation they are hardy, but naturally require a good 

 thoroughly sheltered house to retire into at night. 



Although many species have some raucous unpleasant 

 cries, all have some charming modulated notes. The Raven will 

 warble like a Blackbird, and also ventriloquise, so will the 

 Carrion Crow. The Siberian Jay* (^Perisorem, infaustus) of which 

 I wrote an account in the early days of the magazine, has many 

 most musical cries. I do not recollect to have seen one of these 

 charming birds in captivity since we had our pair, which lived 

 for man)' years ; these would eat mice and mealworms, but were 

 also great consumers of currants, sultanas, etc. All the true 

 Jays are very fond of acorns. I believe no true Jay is found 

 where there is no oak. 



• Avic. Mag., ist Series, V., p. loi (1899K 



