136 
Editorial. 
and even the partial insectivora, is that, though the adult birds 
are quite content with soft food mixtures and a small quantity of 
live food, they will not feed their young thereon. You can hand 
rear the young of insectivorous species on artificial food, but the 
parent birds will not rear their young thereon. 
Moreover, I am a frequent visitor to the Zoo, and know 
from conversation with the various keepers, as well as from 
personal observation, that the young reared in the Gardens have 
been reared on unlimited live food ; and this seems to be the 
general experience. 
I hope the above notes will call forth a general response, 
that many will record their experience and some practical data 
should be the result. 
Nesting Notes : In far away India, our esteemed member 
Capt. G. A. Perreau, who only returned there last March, is 
already getting good breeding results. He set out about mid- 
February on his return journey, after a twelve month's vacation 
in this country, with over 130 finches, parrakeets, etc., including 
such as Firefinches and Cordon Bleus, and landed the whole, 
with only three losses, in good condition at Bakloh. Surely this 
amply indicates that Firefinches and Cordon Bleus could be 
brought over in good condition, if proper attention were paid to 
feeding and sanitation. 
Short as the period is since his arrival at Bakloh, Capt. 
Perreau has young of Zebra,. Ribbon and Bib Finches, Rufous- 
and Long-tailed Grassfinches, Green and Red Avadavats. while 
the following are engaged in the duties of incubation : Crimson 
Finches, Gold-breasted Waxbills, Bengalese, Cordon Bleus ; also 
the following parrakeets: Mealy Rosella, Red-rump, White-eared 
Conures and Black-cheeked Lovebirds have both eggs and young. 
Miss M. E. Baker writes me (June 29) she has a nest of 
Malabar Starlings, seven days old, apparently very strong and 
vigorous, but they have not been closely examined for fear of 
causing their parents to forsake them, but they are certainly very 
lusty judging by the way they call for food. Miss Baker is 
supplying soft food and an unlimited supply of live insects; 
there appears to be very good prospect of them being success- 
