158 Correspoidence.


Ever}' fortnight two or three extra handfuls of oatmeal are added, a small

piece of raw meat and one or two fancy lunch biscuits or half a dog biscuit.


I believe they do equally well in a tin. Some years ago I bought a

tin, with a few mealworms in it and in which they had bred, from an old

naturalist at Dover. What the particular charm about this tin was I do not

know, but the mealworms bred in thousands, and the pieces of sacking

were to be seen covered with tiny mealworms of all sizes.


A great secret is to avoid all damp. Mealworm tins or wooden boxes

left on a stone floor, even in a heated aviary seem to evolve damp and mould

inside, the mealworms die, and moth and rust and small grubs are the only

result.


I keep niy tub near the hot pipes in winter, (failing hot pipes, I

should suggest the kitchen), and on a wooden floor in summer, and I breed

nearly enough for my small needs. Occasionally, when many are needed,

for instance in rearing the young of Starlings, I have had to buy, but this

year I hope even this will not be necessary.


It is annoying that the mealworms nearly all become chrysalides and

eventually beetles about the end of July, when they are most needed.


If large quantities were used a succession of tubs could be arranged,

nearly clearing out one tub before another was commenced, and leaving

perhaps four or five dozen mealworms, not touching this tub, except to

feed, for perhaps six months.


I must add that plenty of ventilation is necessary.


M. A. Johnstone.



NESTING OF THE CHESTNUT-BREASTED FINCH.


Sir, — In view of the Editorial statement in the February number of

the Magazine that the Chestnut-breasted Finch had been bred by Mr. W.

Osbaldeston, would the latter kindly tell us if the young were fully reared ?


I wrote to Mr. Osbaldeston on this matter but did not succeed in

getting a quite definite reply. So far as I understood Mr. Osbalderston's

answer, it was to the effect that he had not succeeded.


I have no doubt however that this species has been bred elsewhere.


W. E. Teschemaker.



RUTHLESS IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN BIRDS.


Sir, — In buying one hundred Leiothrix (Japanese Robins) last month,

I feel I have positively encouraged cruelty. An English bird-dealer

advertised 6000 ! ! at ^5 per 100 for turning out, and in a weak moment I

was tempted to send for a hundred. When they arrived only one was dead,

but the following morning there were fifteen corpses, in spite of my having

attended to the poor birds constantly and carefully from the moment of

arrival ; finally thirty died within a week, the rest are now much stronger.


I had cages (new ones) ready for them ; the best insectivorous food,



