The Red-breasted Thrush. 
log 
Both are in fine form and take a bath daily, wet or fine. The 
tanager feeds on insectile mixture, and ripe fruit, hewii^ 
especially fond of apple. The sugarbird gets sponge-cake 
moistened with fresh milk, and also fruit, but he only really cares 
for grapes. They are most delightful birds, and really very 
liitle troiflile to keep. I have had them about four months, 
and they seem to be always healthy. The sugarbird sings 
([uite well, though quietly. 
I am afraid these notes are getting far too long, but, 1 
think, the sad story of my Httle Vernal Hanging Parrakeets 
{L.oriculiis vcrnalis) may not be without interest. The man I 
got them from bought them from a sailor, and when they came 
into my hands were in very fair form, and plump, but with cut 
wing-flights, so I was forced to cage them. With me, once 
they had tasted it, they refused everything but fruit: they had 
been fed on toast for a week by the man I got them from, who 
got them from a sailor in Leith docks. I am afraid the liberal 
q-.'antities of fruit which I supplied them with, following on such 
strange (unnatural) diet, proved their undoing, as they very soon 
' went West." 
<> 
The Red-breasted (Migratory) Thrush or American 
Robin in Surrey. 
Reprinted from The Field, May 14th, with our apologies and thanks to the 
Editor and proprietors. — Ed. " B.N." 
" In the Spring of 1909 seventeen of these birds were imported from 
the United States and placed in a large aviary belonging to Lord Northcliffe 
at Sutton Place, near Guildford. Early in June of that year several eggs 
were laid in old nests of thrushes and blackbirds which were fixed up in the 
aviary. Some of the eggs were transferred to thrushes' and blackbirds' 
nests in the grounds. Twenty-four young birds were known to have been 
hatched by the middle of July, and the local thrushes were constantly seen 
feeding them on the lawns." 
" After this the adult American robins, with the exception of two or 
three pairs, were released from the aviary. Some of them paired and soon 
commenced nest-building. Two of the nests were built in cedars, and others 
were found in the wild garden by the river Wey. and in a copse in the park. 
They were composed chiefly of dry grass from a meadow just beyond the 
terrace. The cock birds were heard to sing finely." 
" These facts were published anonymously in a local paper by " A 
