82 



Warblers, &c. but even these with due attention may be safely con- 

 veyed to this country. Fresh meat finely scraped, hard eggs cut into 

 small pieces, bread, biscuit, or barley meal, mixed with milk, or with 

 water in which fresh meat has been boiled, will afford a nutritious, 

 and at most times an available food : when pounded and mixed 

 more or less together, until they assume the consistence of paste or 

 honey, these ingredients will suffice even for the most delicate of the 

 Warblers. ^4nts'-eggs, which are abundant in all tropical climates, may 

 be preserved in ajar well tied down, and with the addition of the 

 Blattce or Cock-roaches, so generally attainable on board ship in all 

 their stages of growth, and of the Meal-worms, which are equally 

 abundant in the bread-room, they will occasionally afford an acceptable 

 treat to these birds on their voyage. It is even to be hoped that, with 

 due attention to their wants, the Humming Birds of America maybe 

 brought to this country and be exhibited in our conservatories. It 

 has been ascertained that they can be supported for some lime at least 

 in confinement on honey or sugar and water ; and a further trial may 

 with some prospect of success be attempted to introduce them, as well 

 as all the corresponding groups of Meliphagous Birds of Australia 

 and the old world. 



The Committee do not wish to include in the present Report any 

 reference to the subject of the importation and breeding of Fish. The 

 subject is one which requires much inquiry at home, and still further 

 correspondence abroad. And as the plans of the Society are not yet 

 sufficiently ripe for entering upon any practical experiments, the Com- 

 mittee think it advisable to reserve their observations on this subject, 

 which in the present state of their information would necessarily be 

 imperfect, for a future and a separate report. 



There are various other Animals, not included among the foregoing 

 groups, which would be highly acceptable to the Society, but which 

 the Committee do not include in the list submitted to the Council, lest 

 they should appear to overload it with too many and too particular re- 

 commendations. They will therefore refer to them generally. Many of 

 the Reptiles would be valuable ; more particulary the different species 

 of Tortoises and Lizards. Some of the Molluscous Animals also might 

 be introduced with advantage and interest, such as the larger land 

 Snails, and the freshwater Bivalves. Various Insects also, the foreign 

 si>ecies of Bees for example, with their nests, and the larger silk bear- 

 ing Moths* of India and North America, if imported in a living state, 

 would be so many accessions to science. All these and similar animals 

 might be easily kept alive in our conservatories, and in addition to 

 their scientific value would be objects of extreme attraction. Eggs 

 of birds also, carefully packed in some soft substance with either end 

 upwards, may be sent to this country, with some prospect of an ad- 

 vantageous result. But the Committee must content themselves 

 with this general reference and recommendation, and leave the follow- 

 ing-up of the suggestions to the kindness and discretion of the friends 

 and correspondents of the Society. 



. • * Moths should be sent over in the i)upa state. 



