THE PITTAS. 119 



species to the London Zoological Gardens, and also the 

 still tinier Tickell's Flower-pecker (Dicceum eryfhrorhyn- 

 chum) a plain drab bird with a flesh-coloured bill ; the 

 latter was the first bird of this family to reach England 

 alive. A large cage is more suitable for birds like 

 these than an aviary : they should be fed on soft food and 

 a paste of hard-boiled yolk of eggs mixed up with honey 

 and satoo or biscuit-crumbs. The Crimson-backed Flower- 

 pecker is a remarkably greedy feeder for its size, like 

 most small birds. The most charming thing about them 

 is their extreme fearlessness of man ; they will come on 

 to one's hand without hesitation when hungry, and 

 altogether are delightful little pets, which I strongly 

 recommend to anyone who can only keep such birds as 

 will live in a cage small enough to be carried about. Of 

 course care must be taken to shield them from cold ; if 

 this be done they can be taken to England, and will always 

 be welcome to fanciers there. I am glad to say that the 

 bird sent by Mr. Harper to the London Zoo lived for 

 some time there. 



THE PITTAS. 



Few families of birds are more suited to be aviary 

 pets than these, although as yet they are little known 

 in that capacity. They are found, though not abundant 

 birds, all through the warm parts of the Old World, usually 

 keeping to jungle though coming into gardens. In size 

 they are about equal to the smaller Mynahs, but in form 

 and action more resemble the Thrushes, with which they 

 used to be classed. Their bills are rather stouter than 



