WHAT SHALL HE EAT ? 59 



ground quite fine and thoroughly mixed. The 

 ants' eggs added last. 



The zwieback may be bought, or made by 

 cutting into thin slices dry bread (free from 

 alum or soda), and browning it in a very slow 

 oven. The food must be freshly prepared 

 with an equal quantity of grated raw carrot, 

 every morning, and in hot weather twice a 

 day, for it sours quickly, and no bird will eat 

 sour food. 



The soft-billed birds need also fresh animal 

 food, or if they do not absolutely need it, they 

 enjoy it very much. Meal - worms, which 

 house-keepers know to their frequent disgust, 

 three or four a day, will not hurt any bird, ac- 

 cording to my experience, certainly not one 

 fed on the food containing no meat, like that 

 I have mentioned, and like the receipt. If 

 these are not easily procured, fresh, sweet raw 

 beef will answei^the purpose. It may be cut 

 into minute bits, pressed into a ball like a 

 marble, and placed in a dish to keep out of 

 the gravel ; or, what I have found more con- 

 venient, it may be cut with scissors into strips 

 the size of meal-worms, say an inch long, and 

 as big as a common steel knitting-needle. 



