Molrs or? the Pel; in Robin. 
I am told that tlic failure was probably due to im- 
proper lf)od. Small mealworms, cockroarhes, and sralded ants' 
eggs were what 1 supplifd. Had 1 added live ants' eggs to 
the nieini i)ossibly I might ha\e had better success. 
In future, when I am short of live food, I propose 
to make use of the swee]3 net conunonly used by entomf)Io- 
gists. This is similar to an ordinary butterfly net, with a 
shallower hag made of very course material. The top should 
be leather hound and passed round a strong heavy iron ring 
aboui I, Sin. in diameter, which is firmly fixed to a strong 
handle. A few vigorous sweeps with this weapon amongst the 
herbage of any field or ditch will produce an abundance of 
insects and caterpillars of all kinds, which can be boxed for 
use in the aviary. This method would be useful for the 
owners of small aviaries, where insect life is unlikely to be 
abundant — possibly it is well known, but I have not seen it 
suggested. 
To return to the unnatural parents. They very soon 
recommenced nest-building operations in a small yew tree in 
outer aviary. One egg was laid which I noiticu has since 
disappeared and matters are now at a standstill. 
Notwithstanding their misdemeanours, one can't help 
beiuig greatly attracted by these little pickles. Always full 
of life and act:\ ity — their cheery little notes constantly mai.i- 
taining commun 'cation — their continuous flitting to and fro, their 
confiding disposition, their capacity for minding their own 
business and leaving other birds alone, not to mention the 
powers of the cock as a songster, all combine to place them 
amoiiigst the most desirable of our foreign birds. 
My hen is a lady with some powers of observation. 
She discovered some time ago that the Orange-headed Ground 
Thruslh possessed a longer and stronger bill than her own 
and that it paid well to remain in his vicinity when he was 
rooting up the soil for worms and other attractions. He is 
either too much of a sportsman or too big a fool to resent 
this and as a consec[uence suffers to some extent. 
i have, on the other hand, a little cock Cuban Finch 
who has developed a great att'ectiou tor the hen i'ekm Kobm, 
principally, 1 tliink, because she combs his hair for iiim at 
times, it is ludicrous to see this little morsel sitting beside 
