19



RUFFS.


Sir, — I have two Ruffs (newly caged) coming to-day, and I should be

extremely obliged by any hints which you can give me as to treatment.

The man who caught them has been feeding them on worms.


My cage is 20ft. by 10ft., by 6ft. high, in the open air, with a fountain

in it; also a young yew, and two that have died off.


I am desirous of knowing the most suitable food which can be

readily obtained; whether I should provide any further protection from

the weather ; and any hints that your experience would suggest.


Chas. Louis Hett.



7 'he following reply was sent to Mr. Hett :—


At the Zoological Gardens Ruffs are fed on hard-boiled eggs chopped

small, scraped meat, grated carrot, and breadcrumbs; and this is,

doubtless, the most suitable diet. I have, however, successfully kept them

on Spratts’ Game Meat, with a little scraped meat and hard-boiled egg once

a week. They also require plenty of water in a flat-bottomed dish, as they

are very fond of standing in it. Of course, the more worms they can have

the better, and as they are freshly caught, I should suggest feeding them

at first on worms and hard-boiled eggs, gradually decreasing the worms and

substituting game meal for them.


With regard to providing them with shelter: it is pratically useless,

as the}'will not avail themseves of it; but I should see that the whole

aviary is sheltered from the wind, especially at the north and east.


J. Lewis Bonhote.



TANAGERS AND HONEYSUCKERS.


Sir, —I have been interested in both Mr. Wiener’s and the Hon. F. G.

Dutton’s letters. I have kept both Tanagers and Honeysuckers for several

years. At the present time I have a very fine Honeysucker ; also a Scarlet

Tauager, which has moulted six times in the seven years it has been in my

possession : it has always been in the finest health and plumage.


I feed them on broken sweet biscuits, soaked bread, potatoes, soaked

ants’ eggs and grocers’ currants; and fruit when in season.


James B. Housden.



THE TRAFFIC IN INSECTIVOROUS BRITISH BIRDS.


Sir, —Apart from the fact that Mr. Perkins is, to say the least, im¬

polite to a fellow-member in meeting a well-intentioned letter with a flat

expression of disbelief, he seems altogether to have missed the point of the

original communication. It is not a question as to whether a Wood-wren

is “not a cage-bird at all,” and Mr. Perkins’ crudely expressed opinion that

“ Varet” has most likely never seen a Wood-wren in a cage does not affect

the matter. Further, there was no suggestion in “ Varet’s ” letter that the

various birds were equally difficult, one with the other, to keep in captivity.

The writer, who thinly veils his identity under the pseudonym “ Varet,” is

much too experienced an aviculturist to suggest anything of the sort.

Every one knows that it is easier to keep aWagtail or a Redstart than aWillow

Wren or Flycatcher, and even if it were the case that “ Varet ” had never



