256 FEATHERED FRIENDS. 



am afraid there might be a little difficulty in digesting 

 it, unless, indeed, it had been previously boiled, or softened 

 by soaking in warm water. Indian dari some of them 

 appear to relish, but it is an acquired taste; however, 

 if they do take it, it is very good feeding for them. 



Green stuff of all kinds they are extremely fond of, 

 but I think they prefer groundsel, especially when it is 

 in full flower, when they greedily pick off and devour 

 the buds. Lettuce seems also to be liked, but it has 

 a tendency to make them drowsy, especially if they eat 

 the stalks. 



With regard to small worms, snails, and insects or 

 all kinds, they will take as many of them as they find, 

 and in their wild state, I imagine, consume a large 

 amount of animal food. Ants' eggs, supplied to them 

 as bought, seem to be thoroughly enjoyed, and they 

 will pick up the larvae and pupae of the common flesh- 

 fly (blue-bottle) as greedily as they will their favourite 

 millet, or indeed with even greater gusto. 



Very likely I did not allow mine a sufficiency ot 

 insect food and that in consequence they did not lay: 

 I would advise a liberal supply. If insects could 

 not be obtained, probably a little lean meat, shredded 

 or chopped up finely, might have an equally bene- 

 ficial effect; it is recommended by a French naturalist 

 and aviculturist, M. Rousse. 



The scientific name of the Barred or Zebra. Dove is 

 Geopelia striata. 



