97


I liave so far experimented with Virginian, Red-crested and Green

Cardinals, Red-lieaded, Japanese, Nonpareil and Indigo Buntings, Sycalis

arvensis, Desert Trumpeter Bullfinch, Cherr}^ Finch, Chestnut Finch,

Diamond Sparrow, Black-headed Nun, Parson Finch, Zebra Finch, Green

Avadavat. Of man}'- of these I have had specimens out for three winters,

and cannot see an}' loss of vitality in them ; of those I have lost, I have not

been able to attribute the death to cold in anj^ one case, but a Diuca Finch

I certainly lost owing to exposure. I judge from ]\Ir. Farrar's notes in the

Magazine that he has kept out many other species, and his experience on

the subject would be interesting.


Time onlv will show whether the lives of my birds are shortened

by exposure. In this conne6lion it would be interesting to have fuller

statistics than we at present possess of the length of time during which

the smaller Finches are generally kept in a warm bird-room.


R. A. Todd.



FOOD FOR SOFT-BIDDED BIRDS.


Sir, — I see Mr. Marshall was somewhat surprised at a Blackbird

being kept on cheese.


In this part of the world, we feed Blackbirds and Thrushes on barley

meal made crumbly with water. The}' may have an occasional snail, but

not regular!}'. On this they thrive and live long. I can answer for it,

because I have kept them in this wav.


F. G. DurroN.



Sir, — As A'ou invite further correspondence on the subject of Food

for Soft-billed Birds, I send you my experience in the matter. I feed my

birds on a mixture I make myself, but which I cannot give the receipt for,

as I am thinking of making it for sale. I shall be glad, however, to send a

limited number of members samples of it on application. In addition to

the above mixture, I give raw meat prepared as follows : The meat (mutton

for choice) is first scraped or chopped fine ; it is then well saturated with

water, which is then well squeezed out in the hand. The meat can then be

placed in mouthfnls between the bars of the cage or in a pan. I Ijelieve

this washing of the meat to be the secret of success in feeding on meat,

and that it agrees better with birds than when unwashed. Washing the

meat before chopping it Avould not have the same effect. I suppose the

juices in ii;:washed meat are too stimulating. Meat prepared as above may

be given ad libitum with the greatest benefit. Another advantage gained by

the washing is the removal of the stickiness of unwashed meat, which

causes too large a quantity to be taken by a bird and wasted about the cage.

When raw meat is not at hand I give cooked meat ; but I do not consider it

as good as raw, nor do the birds care for it as much. I also think some

insect food every day is desirable, but not necessary.


On the above treatment I have kept birds si;ch as ShSmas, in perfect

health and song; also, while in India, an English Nightingale, in perfect

health and song for about five years, and probably should have kept him

longer if I had not taken him with me to an altitude of about 6,000 feet

when he was moulting, and the sudden change from heat to cold was

evidentl}' too much for him.



