Hints on the Rearing and Keeping of Birds 



bird children are almost as much trouble as' the ■ human variety, 

 and no one should keep them who is not willing to take infinite 

 pains. 



The next aiticle of diet should be ants' eggs (which may be 

 procured from any bird fancier), mixed with the potato and eggs — 

 a little at first, and gradually increasing the amount ; finally, with 

 hard-billed birds, seed may be given as soon as the bill is hard 

 enough, though at first it is sometimes necessary to crack the 

 hemp-seed before giving it. 



For soft-billed birds 1 know of nothing better than what is 

 known as " mocking-bird food " ; this may be bought either in 

 the dry or the moist form. The latter kind can be made from the 

 following recipe : 



6 parts corn-meal. 



6 parts pea-meal. 



6 parts German moss-meal. 



Add a little melted lard and molasses, fry well for half an hour, 

 keeping it well stirred. If put in a covered'jar it will keep for a 

 long time. 



This is rather rich, and if found to disagree with the bird the 

 dry form of food should be substituted, mixing it fresh every day 

 with grated carrot and water sufficient to moisten it. Birds must 

 be watched carefully to see that their food agrees with them ; ex- 

 cept when moulting they should be lively and have good appetites ; 

 if such is not the case, it is probable that the food does not suit 

 them, and a change should be made immediately. Occasionally 

 birds have fits ; that is to say, they drop down without any warn- 

 ing, and either lie perfectly still, with feet upturned as though 

 dead, or they revolve rapidly while on the ground. This hap- 

 pened to one of my favourite pet birds, and in despair 1 consulted 

 a bird dealer, who told me to cut the nail and thus draw blood. 

 I did so, but without any result. Several times on alternate days 

 the poor bird had these fits, and every timeswe believed him to 

 J5e dying. Finally, as a last resource, we changed his diet from 

 the moist to the dry food with plenty of carrot, and from that day 

 he has been perfectly well, very much to our delight. 



It is advisable to give birds as much ripe, fruit and green stuff 

 as they wish. Young lettuce they are particularly fond of, but 

 they will eat almost any young leaves. 



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