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ornamental waggon-cages, not permitted to bathe, but fed on

milk-sop and grocers' currants : of course under this treatment

these active and cleanlj^ birds soon died. Fed in the same

manner as a Tanager, a Zosterops (even when alone, as mine has

long been) will live in perfect health for years ; but it needs a

good-sized cage and a bath.


As elsewhere stated, Mr. Abrahams gave me my only pair

of this species in 1893 or 1894 ! ^^^<^ ^^^ hen, which at first

appeared to be the stronger bird, only survived about a year ;

whereas the cock bird is still in perfect health.


Last 3^ear I turned in a newly-captured Gold-crest with

him, hoping that he would teach the latter to feed ; but, though

he cuddled up to it and preened its feathers, the Gold-crest

refused everything in the shape of food excepting small spiders,

and only survived for twenty-four hours from the time of its

capture.


I give my Zosterops my usual soft mixture consisting of

stale bread-crumbs moistened with mashed potato, and mixed

witli Abrahams' food, preserved yolk and ants' cocoons, also half

an orange or apple daily : he will not touch mealworms, but

likes small flies or clothes moths when he can get them, which

is extremely rarely. I hardly know when he moults, as the

feathers are so gradually shed that they make no noticeable

litter ; consequentl}^, throughout the year, my bird is invariablj''

to all appearance perfect in plumage.


If oranges or soft apples are not procurable, which is not

often the case, a soft pear split in half, or a few split sweet-water

■grapes with the pips removed, are accepted gratefully ; but, as is

the case with Tanagers, sweet oranges seem to be preferred to

most fruits ; banana is eaten in the absence of anything else, but

Zosterops simplex seems not to appreciate this fruit as the Scarlet

Tanager does. Like the Superb Tanager, he usually commences

a meal with the soft mixture ; but, whereas the former always

selects a piece of bread for his first mouthful, the latter prefers

yolk of ^zz-


Spectacle-birds are naturally sociable, and when at rest

like to sit close to a companion, after the manner of Liothrix or

Estrilda ; nevertheless a solitary life evidently does not distress

them as it would other species.



