5o



g'ood quality, but the whiter it is the more readily it is eaten by

the birds.


Brown millet is absolutely useless—I never knew any birds

that would eat it.


French millet is sold in two forms (i) Spray millet and

(2) so-called “ Indian ” millet. These are the produce of two

very closely allied, but distinct, plants. Their food value I believe

to be exactly equal—and the only difference which I can detect

in the grain is that that of the “spray” form is slightly larger

and more rounded. I think the “spray” is really the best, as

the birds enjoy pulling it to pieces : nevertheless, I always use

“ Indian ” myself, because it gives less trouble. French millet is

an excellent seed, and may be freely supplied to all birds. It is

most useful for newly imported Waxbills and Grassfinches, and

for many species when they have young in the nest—the avi-

culturist should never be without it. Unfortunately, it is a rather

expensive seed.


In each of my aviaries which contain seed-eating birds, I

keep a constant supply of canary-seed, white millet, and Indian

millet, each in a separate pan.


German rape is a good seed for such as will eat it, and it

is well to supply a pan of it in the aviary if any birds will take

it. It is very valuable for many British finches, but none of the

Ploceine finches will touch it. Care should be taken that it is

fresh, and free from mustiness.


Hemp seed is valuable, but requires to be used with great

discretion. If crushed, almost all birds will eat it, and I think a

little occasionally is good for most of them. Many delicate

species (such as Gouldian finches) when newly imported, will be

found to greatly benefit b}" a little crushed hemp.


Maw seed is useful for occasional use as a pick-me-up, and

for checking diarrhoea—'but it is extremely fattening.


Inga seed I have never used to any extent, and, although

I doubt whether it is so dangerous as it is sometimes said to be,

I should not care to add it to the regular dietary of any bird in

my care.


Linseed also is a seed which I do not think much of—

though a little will do no harm for a change.


As a rule, I think finches are better without mealworms,

but buntings and cardinals require a few.


Some kind of soft food, containing egg, I believe to be

beneficial to most finches—and I find them less liable to baldness



