Breeding and Management. 57 



your hands, an equal portion of bread, not too new, mix them 

 together, either with a knife, or rub them together in an old 

 newspaper; give about two teaspoonfuls of this to each pair 

 of birds daily; every alternate day give them a little maw 

 or hemp - seed (the former preferred), and occasionally a 

 little linseed and millet-seed. After the birds have been 

 together two or three days give them a nest. 



CRUSHING-SEED. A large number of Norwich fanciers use 

 a small coffee- or pepper-mill for crushing hemp and other 

 seeds, which I noticed some of them gave their birds whilst 

 breeding. After crushing, the husks must be removed: this 

 may be accomplished either by blowing them away or by 

 sifting. 



PREPARED FOOD. A good mixture of dry food can be pre- 

 pared as follows: Breadcrusts, rusks, or biscuits, 8oz.; ground 

 linseed, pure, 2oz. ; finely-ground oatmeal, 3oz. ; ground rice, 

 3oz. ; crushed hemp-seed, freed from husks, 2oz. ; powdered 

 loaf sugar, 4oz. ; salt, oz. ; maw-seed, 2oz. This food should 

 all be reduced to a fine powder, except the maw-seed, which 

 may be added whole, and the mixture should be rubbed well 

 together in a mortar, or other suitable vessel, and kept in a 

 tin canister in a dry place. It is invaluable as a food for 

 birds, and may be given to them ad libitum if desired; they 

 are very fond of it. It should be mixed with hot water to 

 a moderate consistency, and given to the birds when cold, or 

 nearly so. A teaspoonful of this mixture is sufficient for 

 any bird for one day when not breeding. It keeps them in 

 health and condition, and you need use no other food for 

 rearing young birds unless you choose, but be careful not 

 to let it get sour, and keep the feeding -tins scrupulously 

 clean. It increases the bone and muscle. 



The crusts, rusks, biscuits, and sugar can be powdered as 

 finely as you please by using one of Hancock's Patent Bread- 

 crumbing and Sugar-Mills, sold complete for a few shillings. 

 These machines are most useful to breeders who keep a lot 

 of birds, and can be procured from F. and C. Hancock's 



