312



Mr. R. Philupps,



world? People are far too fond of asserting that a species is

hardy when it does not die off straight away on the first spell of

cold, or during a winter. But the seeds of death are often sown

only too surely; and months later the bird goes wrong and

dies of consumption, of kidney or liver disease, or some such

ailment. The constant wet and cold are certainly having an

adverse effect upon my two young ones which have survived, and

may have had much to do with the death of the two that did not.

The bird, however tame, is by nature shy, and it loves the open,

and it cannot be trusted to seek such shelter as is needful for the

preservation of its health.


In another sense, it is certainly delicate. There are few

species with which I am acquainted that suffer so seriously from

the effects of a too generous diet. Do not give your Rock-

Thrusli, as a regular article of food, either mealworms or gentles,

nor even wasp-grubs. Let it have cockroaches and other insects,

and spiders as many as you can supply. Vegetable food in some

form is of importance ; it takes fruit occasionally. I think that

winged insects, such creatures as daddy-long-legs, &c., must be

of great value. Like hay and chaff to a horse in the stable, so

do the legs and wings act as “dispersers” in the stomach, and

greatly aid digestion ; the indigestible portions are cast in the

ordinary way. So desirable is something of this kind for the

Pied Rock-Thrush that, if it be not supplied, it will swallow rag,

string, &c., all of which should carefully be kept away from the

aviary: string has quite a fascination for this bird.


For the most part, the Pied Rock-Thrush in the aviary is

amiably disposed towards other birds not nearly related—with

these there may be war to the death ; a male will even kill a

female of his own species, so watchfulness and care must be

exercised. In the spring-time, if there be any prospect of nest¬

ing, the male will often hunt any large bird irrespective of

species. This year I had to remove a Waxwing, or it would

certainly have been killed. Years ago a female was sitting, and

whenever she needed a little relaxation or diversion she would

emerge and chase my old father Black Lark (O.S. V., p. 170).


Even with little birds they may be tempted beyond their

strength. One year there was a nestful of young Grey Singing-



