THE CARE OF r 
DOMESTICATED 
ANIMALS. 
By W. M. FREEMAN. 
Many bird lovers are fond of 
keeping talking 
birds, these 
being the mag- 
pie, the jackdaw, the jay, 
and the starling, which last- 
named little fellow is one of 
the most interesting of all 
birds to keep. It is worthy 
of note that all these birds 
are carnivorous and insecti- 
vorous in their diet, although 
none of them particularly object to any- 
thing edible that comes in their way. 
The starling is very widely kept as a pet, 
but a great many of them die in the 
hands of inexperienced people for want of 
more of the kinds of food they get in their 
wild state. Finely-chopped fresh meat is 
one of the best foods for a starling together 
with worms, beetles, and any other insects 
that are obtainable. They do not as a rule 
live very long in small cages, but in a large 
roomy out-door aviary where they can have 
The 
Aviary. 
ESS 
Photograph by Hutchinson d& Co. 
THE BEST WAY TO KEEP RABBITS. 
Snapshot of young rabbits at the mouth of an artificial ‘‘bury”’ in a large tomatoe “frame,” 
176 
Photograph by J. Peat Millar, Beith. 
is 
A TAME COCK ROBIN, 
plenty of exercise they will thrive very well. 
During the moulting season, which is not 
yet over, all aviary birds need a little extra 
attention in the direction of stimulating food. 
Hemp seed can now be given liberally with 
good results, whereas it should only be given 
in very limited quantities Gf at all) at other 
times. A little syrup of hypophosphites added 
to the water will be a safe and useful tonic, 
helping out the new feathers. The aviary 
during moulting time will require to be 
kept even more scrupulously clean than at 
other times on 
account of the 
number of old 
feathers littermg 
the floor. Protec- 
tion from cold 
winds should be 
arranged without 
interfering with 
the complete open- 
air system of ven- 
tilation which 
ought to prevail 
in every aviary. 
Do not neglect, 
now in particular, 
the grit boxes. 
Every aviary 
ought to have a 
little box or other 
receptacle set 
