to bring forward on this subject, but wish rather to remind our

aviculturists of the value of these foods.


1. Fresh Grass Seed. Most of us, I suppose, from time to

time, give our small finches a little of the common grass when

full of seed. This is probably the best of all foods for Waxbills

and Grass-Finches. They prefer it to any other seed, except

perhaps spray millet, and so long as it can be obtained, I would

advocate its use, not only occasionally, but as their principal

food. Cordon-bleus and other small birds which are delicate

when newly imported thrive wonderfully on this and (if they can

be obtained) fresh ants’ eggs. My Gouldian Finches throve as

long as they had a good supply of this freshly gathered seed,

and I attribute ni} T little success in keeping them through the

winter, as much to the substitution of dried for fresh seed, as to

the influence of cold. Of course, in a town it is not always easy

to procure even so simple a matter as grass, but probably

most aviculturists could get a boy to colledt it at the cost of the

canary and millet seed saved.


2. Berries. The common red berries known as haws are

eagerly eaten by many parrots : nothing gives them greater

pleasure than to pull to pieces a bough of hawthorn, picking off

and eating the red berries. The Waxwing is ver}^ fond of them,

and bolts them whole. Elderberries are a favourite food of

Blackcaps. These are the only berries I have used much.

Possibly others would be equally useful.


3. Chicktveed , when ripe and full of seed, is liked by

finches, though they prefer the grass-seed. I need only mention

groundsel, dandelion, and watercress.


4. Earwigs. These unattractive insedts abound, and are an

unmitigated nuisance in most town gardens. Insectivorous birds

eat them greedily, and they seem to be perfectly wholesome.

Last summer, in a small garden, with very little trouble I

collected so many earwigs that I was able to save the cost of

several thousand mealworms, and this during the time of the

year when mealworms were scarce. The simplest plan of taking

earwigs is to place pieces of hollow cane among dahlias or rose

trees : earwigs and other insects colledt in these snug retreats

and may be blown out into a bottle.


5. Cockroaches. I need hardly mention these as most

aviculturists know their value. Birds will readily help them¬

selves out of a “ Demon” trap. For birds caged separately the

insedts may be picked out with a small pair of forceps.



