52


are always supposed to have the greatest influence in determining habits,

are as divergent as can be : the one spending most of its time on water, the

other inhabiting dry fields. It also tends to show that habits are b}' no

means so transient and easil}' influenced b}' external circumstances as many

suppose ; but, at any rate, in this case they have been able to withstand the

agents that have caused so great a divergence from the common ancestor

of the two species.


Another point which has often puzzled me with regard to the Moor-

hen is the abundance of unused nests that are always found ; undoubtedly

some of them are built as landing-stages for the young, but Mr. Hett

evidently believes that some are built by earlier broods, and it would be

extremely interesting if he could another year ascertain the fact.


As regards bread as food for the young, I was much entertained one

day this year in St. James's Park, by watching a Moorhen taking bread as

it was thrown down, and coveying it to her young, who remained partially

concealed in the rushes close by.


J. IfEWis BONHOTE.



FOOD FOR SOFT-BILLED BIRDS.

Sir, — In the last issue, you invite correspondence on this most

interesting subjecl, and this is my only excuse for burdening your space.


A few years ago I tried to keep many of our Warblers, and afterwards

gave it up, as I came to the conclusion that not having means or suitable

accommodation to keep them properlj^ it was better not to do so at all.

For three or four years I always had a few by me, as I was determined, if

possible, to find out the secret of success, and I only gave it up when I had

satisfied myself that I had found out the secret, and that owing to practical

conditions, it was impossible for me to carry it out. " First catch your

hare and then cook it," is a golden rule for most people, but the exception

to it is found in aviculture, where it is all-important to learn the rudiments

of how to keep a bird before catching it. I will, therefore, pass over the

great question of " meatiug oflf" a fresh -caught bird,* or the other

alternative of hand-rearing — to which practice I am, personally, strongly

opposed.


The first point to consider is that of cage verstis aviary. During our

winter, the Warblers do much better in a large and roomy box-cage, with

not less than two or more than four in a cage. The reason is, not because

the birds keep in better health, but that they can be under closer observa-

tion, and the delicacies more evenly divided. Besides which, a bird may be to

all appearances well in the morning and dead in the afternoon ; in an aviary

it would not be noticed, or if noticed, the excitement of catching it would

probably place it beyond hope of recovery. The next point is, where should

the cage or cages be kept 1 An ordinary living-room is too hot by day and

too cold in the early morning, and, to make a long story short, the only place

is a room devoted solely to birds, with good ventilation and a fairly con-

stant temperature.


In writing these notes, I would impress on my readers that individual

birds have thriven under very different circumstances, but these notes are


* For roug-h details on " meating- off," see article ou the " Spotted Flycatcher," in

No. 5 of the Avicultural Magazine, March, 1895.



