26 Cage Birds in the Frankfurt Zoological Gardens.


birds. For insectivorous birds fresh and best ants’ eggs, really

fresh hard-boiled egg, chopped and rubbed through a grating,

grated carrot, currants, elder-berries, and a few mealworms. All

had a little fresh lean beef twice a day, just what they would take

from the fingers, no more. None was left in the cage.


Seed-eating birds had all small seeds, including apparently

unlimited maw seed, and most had a little soft food as well.

There were 88 cages in the house, none containing the

commonest and hardiest species, such as Chaffinch, Bullfinch,

etc., or any large birds with the exception of the two Rock

Thrushes, Golden Oriole, Hoopoe, all of which were in perfect

condition. But it is to the appearance of the birds themselves

that I wish to draw attention. With hardly an exception every

bird was in absolutely faultless condition, tame, bright, spotless,

and covered with bloom, and most were nearly clean-moulted.

Nearly every German warbler was represented, and more beauti¬

ful birds than the green alid satin white Wood Warbler, or the

swarthy little Dartfield Warbler, can hardly be imagined. All the

Chats were perfect, as were also the Tits, and the charming little

White-headed Long-tailed Tits were pictures; as were also the

Goldcrests and Firecrests. The Tree Creepers looked well, and

a Grasshopper Warbler, that had been there five years, surprised

me ; beyond being slightly scaly in the legs it looked perfect and

was clear moulted. Each bird seemed to have some little

speciality provided for it. For instance, the Goldcrests fresh

spruce twigs ; the Long-tailed Tits fresh sloe branches; the Tree

Creepers fresh bark. These little extras are given fresh at least

once a day. I saw the Wheatears had stones.


One end of the outside of this house is devoted to the

Woodpeckers, and a more beautiful collection it would be im¬

possible to see. All our Woodpeckers were shown, and in

addition the Great Black, the Middle Spotted, and the Grey¬

headed (Gecinus vividicanus'). All were perfect , in large metal

lined cages in which a partly decayed log of spruce was placed

every week. Their food was practically the same as that of the

other insectivorous birds, the Pied Woodpeckers having nuts,

etc. added. It will be seen from this that the surroundings of

this beautiful collection were extremely simple, and the food given



