42 Foodjor Nightingales and other delicate Insectivorous Birds.


most suitable places, as I thought, but soon found the birds pre-

ferred to choose their own spot for a nest, as not one ot the

baskets was used. I never take any precautions as to the young

birds falling out of their nests as there never appeared to be any

need for it. The only time that I did have nestlings die was

when I handled them, and nothing would then prevent them

from falling out, and although I put them back, in the morning

they were found dead.


I have bred in the same aviary the Australian Crested

Dove (Ocj'phaps lophotes), the White-fronted Dove {Leptoplila

jamaicensis), the Rufous Dove {Leptopiila reichenbachi), the Cin-

namon Dove {Chamaepelia talpacoti), and the White-wing Zenaida

(Melopelia leiicopterd), while I had at one time or another the

Bleeding-heart, Wonga Wonga, Spotted, Araucana, Crown and

White-crowned Pigeons, Indian Green-winged, Red Mountain,

Black Spotted, Pigmy, and Geoffroy's Doves, etc.



FOOD FOR NIGHTINGALES AND OTHER DELICATE


INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS.

By the Rev. Hubert D. Astxey, M.A.


May I be allowed to assist in digging up some of the truth

with regard to the most satisfactory food for nightingales, etc.?

During an automobile tour in Umbria and Tuscany last spring-

time I purchased two of these birds. One at Arezzo at the

commencement of the tour ; the other at Siena at the finish

thereof.


My Arezzo bird — the native town of Petrarca — sang beau-

tifully whenever and wherever the motor-car came to a standstill

— in hotels strange to him, at railway stations when the motor-

car was no longer with us — and even in the motor-car before we

actually started for a day's journey.


It was through purchasing the Sienese bird that I obtained

the most valuable tips as to food. I had gone to a small bird-

shop (oh ! how dirty and smelly it was) to buy some mealworms,

telling the man that I wanted them for a Nightingale, upon

which he asked me whether I should like another one. At first



