192 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 



given to birds which have not had it of late, or they wilJ 

 take too much, which often causes their death. 



Lime is needed by hen-birds when laying, in order to 

 form the egg-shell, and is beneficial to birds at all times. 

 The best form in which it can be supplied to small birds 

 is cuttle-fish bone, which can be obtained from a chemist, 

 or picked up on the beach if one happens to live near the 

 sea. The " bone " which is brittle and spongy, should 

 be securely fastened up by a wire in reach of the birds, 

 which gnaw it with great pleasure. Plaster rubbish 

 from old houses is also useful. 



Rock-salt is relished by Doves and Parrots, and a lump 

 may be kept constantly in their reach. 



REARING YOUNG BIRDS. 



This is very troublesome, as the little things require 

 such frequent feeding ; " litte and often " being the 

 method to follow. They should not be taken for rearing 

 till covered with feathers and nearly ready to fly. The 

 young of insectivorous birds of the smaller and more 

 delicate kinds are best reared on white ants and small 

 grasshoppers ; of the larger, on egg-and-safoo paste and 

 biead-and-milk, with whatever large insects come to 

 hand. The young of seed-eaters need to be fed on paste 

 and sop like those of insectivorous birds, not being able 

 to digest hard seed till fledged. A small pair of forceps is 

 the best thing for feeding young birds with ; failing these, 

 a quill toothpick with the tip rounded off answers very 

 well. Drops of water must not be forgotten. Hand- 

 reared birds generally become delightfully tame, and 



