FOOD OF SMALL BIRDS. 231 



for intervals of eight or ten minutes : the food was green 

 caterpillars. 



The Titmouse, 16 times in an hour. 



The comparative weight consumed was as follows : A 

 Greenfinch, provided with 80 grains, hy weight, of wheat, in 

 24 hours, consumed 79 ; but of thick paste, made of flour, 

 egg, &c., it consumed upwards of 100 grains. 



A Goldfinch consumed ahout 90 grains of Canary-seed in 

 24 hours. 



Sixteen Canaries consumed at the average rate of 100 

 grains each, in 24 hours. 



The consumption of food by these birds, compared with 

 "the weights of their bodies, was about one-sixth; which, 

 supposing a man to consume food in the same proportion to 

 his weight, would amount to about 25 pounds for every 24 

 hours ! 



