THE CAGE-BIRDS OF CALCUTTA. 565 



feird-feeders, who, on the receipt of a small monthly sum, will call daily at the 

 fcouses of their patrons and supply insectivorous birds with everything need- 

 ful. With the exception of Parrots, few seed-eating birds are kept simply as 

 pets, and their treatment calls for no special remark. 



Many birds are imported from China, and come over in excellent condition 

 being housed in strong but light oblong or square cages of split bamboo, wel 

 put together and fitted with trays. The insectivorous birds are fed on 

 shelled millet and small insects, mixed together and given quite dry and plain • 

 they thrive excellently on this diet, which is far better than the mess of 

 "satoo " and repulsive maggots given here. 



From the farther East come chiefly Lories and Cockatoos, fastened to 

 perches by a wide ring of cocoa-nut shell, through a hole in the circumference 

 of which the foot of the bird is slipped— I think by pressing the third toe 

 back against the shank. Although so closely attached to the perch— which 

 is merely passed through the ring that plays upon it— these birds appear to 

 fare well and to keep in good condition. The Lories are fed upon rice-and- 

 milk sop, which food is not given to any other birds, so far as I am aware. 



It is a curious fact that, to all appearance, the species brought down from 

 the hills often stand the Calcutta climate nearly or quite as tvell as those 

 which naturally inhabit warm countries. The same remark applies to the 

 few European kinds imported ; some, indeed, of these temperate-climate 

 species seem to feel the heat less than denizens of the tropics, 



I am very glad to say that, on the whole, the captives are well treated here. 

 The custom above alluded to, of wrapping up the cages in cloths, is certainly 

 regrettable, but the general condition of the birds shows that they are well 

 looked after. Nor are they confined in such a miserably small space as is 

 sometimes the case in Europe, notably with Linnets in England. 



■ The importation of foreign birds is not likely, in my opinion, to have any 

 great influence on ihe Indian fauna. Of coarse many escape, but these if 

 they evade the numerous Crows, ever watchful for a stranger or a weakling 

 are not numerous enough to establish themselves, even if the climate prove 

 suitable for their propagation. I have some reason, however, for thinking 

 that the Java Sparrow {Munia oryzivora) is becoming established here as in 

 so many other places. But this need be no matter for regret, as the species 

 is one of exceptional beauty, and, though it is undoubtedly destructive in some 

 places, it has never become a pest in India, where it has existed in a wild state 

 ever since Jerdon's time. I therefore feel no shame in confessing to having 

 liberated at different times some scores of individuals, in the hope of giving 

 it a footing as a wild species in this part of the country; especially since, 

 being so numerously imported, so often escaping, and being so well able to 

 look after itself, it was likely to take up such a position without deliberate 

 assistance on the part of anyone. 



■ I will now proceed to treat of the various species of cage-birds to be met 

 with here under their families as given in the Bird-volumes of the "Fauna of 



