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be supplied to each male (a difficult matter to arrange in this county, as so

few females are imported), or the male should be removed, for the female

will sit very well without him, and would doubtless rear her young under

favourable circumstances; my own aviaries were too crowded for any

reasonable hope of success. On one occasion I found a female Wood¬

cock composedly sitting On the Reeve’s eggs, but she did not lay, much

to my disappointment, hike other ground-birds, they do not carry the

materials to the nesting-places. As the female walks about, every bit of

hay or stuff, suitable or unsuitable, that comes in her way, is chucked over

her shoulder in the direction of the nest, and later on chucked a stage

nearer. The eggs were often moved from one place to another.


These birds used to be exceedingly common in the fens ; but are now

011I3' occasional visitors to our shores. Those which appear every summer

are brought over from Holland.


When first received, the tips of both wings should be cut off, but after

the moult, in a large aviary, they will flyabout without hurting themselves;

and a pretty sight it is to see these birds and their relatives on the wing.


My birds were in the open garden summer and winter, and never ailed ;

but there are several sheds and thick bushes about, under which they would

seek shelter if they required it; nevertheless, they seemed to feel severe,

cold. During frost and snow I used to lay down liajr, sacking, etc., which

they seemed to find a great comfort. If the wings of Mr. Hett's birds have

been closely cropped after the usual custom, and a valuable part of their

clothing thus removed, shelter will be desirable : a mound thrown up in a

suitable place, with a covering two or three feet above, will probably attract

them.


A good part of the ground should be turfed over, for they will not do

well 011 gravel; they are fen lovers by nature.


Reginald Phieeipps.



THE GODDEN-CRESTED WREN.


Sir, —Would you kindly oblige by giving me a little information

respecting the treatment of Golden-crested Wrens ?


E. Griffiths.



The following reply was sent to j\lr. Griffiths :—


The real secret of keeping these birds is the necessity of an unlimited 1

supply of insects or their equivalent. I should keep them in a cage open

only at the front, and place the cage in a moderately warm room. As staple

food I should recommend hard-boiled egg passed through a wire sieve, and

ants’ eggs ; in addition to this they must have as many insefls as can

possibly be got. Mealworms are rather heating, although they may be

given sparingly. In default of fresh insects give them a piece of scraped

raw beef every day. The food is best given in china dishes, which can

be thoroughly cleaned every day. They should, of course, have an

abundance of fresh clean water.


J. Dfwis BonhoTE. r



