346 On the Breeding in Captivity of the Red-backed Shrike.


the same age. If they survive till next spring (and there is no

reason why they should not) the doors of their and their parents’

cages will be opened at a place distant from London fogs and

cats, where they will find eveiy inducement to stay and pro¬

pagate their species.


This report extends to a greater length than I anticipated,

but before concluding it, I may add a few words on the food on

which I found my Butcher-birds to thrive. I gave them a mixture

of dried ants’ eggs, artificial food (Century or Abrahams’,) mixed

raw beef and hard boiled egg, and finely scraped raw carrots.

The proportions of these ingredients vary at different times of

the year, and according to the state of health of the birds. At

times (for instance, during moulting or in very cold weather) the

supply of beef is increased ; when they are restless at night, the

vegetable substances are given in larger proportions, but at all

times dried ants’ eggs are required to facilitate the formation of

castings which in Shrikes are as sure a sign of health as in

Hawks. When fresh ants’ eggs are available, I give them mixed

with the dried. The birds receive, besides, daily from four to ten

mealworms, in addition to cockroaches or other insects, if such

happen to be at hand. With this food my birds, after the strain

of having had two broods of young in succession, are in as

health)^ a condition as they were at the beginning of summer.

They have never shown the least sign of impatience at

the confinement, in which they have passed the first year of

their life ; and I therefore feel all the more justified in recom¬

mending this species to aviculturists, and hope that they will

derive from it as much pleasure as my birds have given me.



