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It is getting on for twenty years since I first started the keeping of

foreign birds, and for three parts of that time I followed the directions

given in various bird books as to the proper way to get the worms to

propagate. I was fortunate up to the Chrysalis state—then each year these

were attacked by thousands of very minute insedls, which exterminated

them before they could turn into beetles. Then for food I “rung the

changes” by feeding them on barley meal, wheat flour, oatmeal, raw

potatoes and carrots, Spratt’s dog biscuits whole—but I will not give all my

experiments in feeding. Perhaps what I am now about to state may be

a case of “coals to Newcastle” to some of your readers.


For the last two years I have filled the two gallon jars with layers

of thick brown paper and bi-an to within three inches of the top, and tied

a muslin cover over them. Occasionally the contents are overlooked, by

spreading a newspaper on a table and lifting out the different layers. From

these I pick out the fattest worms and drop them into a tin that measures

about 5 ins. high by 2^ ins. across. The food now supplied is thin captain’s

biscuits ; and it is a wonderful sight to see a biscuit perforated by these

hungry little fellows—it reminds me of a skeleton leaf. Manicure nippers

are useful in picking up the selected worms.


As two years have elapsed without the chrysalides being destroyed by

their very tiny enemy, I consider that my manner of treatment has been

fairly tested.


W. T. Catpeugh.



THE AGE OF CAGE-BIRDS.


Sir, —In the November number our Secretary wishes for information

on the above subject, also whether white feathers appearing are caused by

age.


At the present time I have a hen Dwarf Finch, purchased in Nov.

1893, with white feathers in the tail. A hen Zebra Waxbill, bought 12th June

1S90, which went bare for some months at the back of the neck, has the

once bald space covered with a patch of white. A hen African Grey Wax-

bill, that came to me 011 nth June, 1S89, has white feathers in the tail.


To test how long these wee mites could live in captivity, I used to

buy a certain number of each species, and not obtain any more until the last

had died. Unfortunately, through my hanging a bath (with one of the

supports partly broken) at an open door of a large cage, my experiment

received a severe check, for a favourite Persian cat of my wife’s was shut in

the room one evening, and managed to get the bath away, so that all my birds

were dead when morning came. Unhappily, three years afterwards, the cat

was again accidentally shut in the room, and there was a similar slaughter.


I give the age of the Waxbills at the time they were massacred :_


Green Avadavat, 6 years; Orange Breast, 7J years ; Orange Cheek, 8£ years;

African Grey, 8 years ; St. Helena Waxbill, 7| years ; Lavender Finch, SJ

years ; Cordou-bleu, 6 years.


I have been living in the country for the last 10 years, and know that

small finches and waxbills live longer in the pure air than when kept in a

town. The dreadful fogs used to make the Avicultural Death Rate rapidly

rise.



