HINTS ON CAGE-BIRDS. 
25 
Dr. Butler feeding his Birds. 
under the name of “Pinch food” or “Parrot food” are freely 
advertised, are a most fruitful cause of disease and death. 
Birds of the Serin group (to which the Canary belongs) and 
Linnets do better on canary and German rape (or, in the case of the 
African Serins, upon canary and millet), with the addition of 
a little hemp when they are breeding or moulting, than on anything 
else. Siskins and Goldfinches require hemp, with a sprinkling of 
teazle, thistle, or dandelion at all times. Cliaffinohes and Buntings 
should have oats added to their mixture; indeed, all the true 
Pinches, which are strong enough to husk them, like oats, and are 
* A little grass seed may be added in the winter. 
canary seed is the most important for the true Pinches ( FrirujiUula >), 
so white millet and spray millet are most important for the weaving 
Pinches ( Ploceidce ) ; nevertheless some of these prefer canary ; 
therefore it is best to keep millet and canary mixed in equal parts 
for these birds* The same, with the addition of a sprinkling of 
oats, forms the best mixture for Java Sparrows, Pintailed Non- 
pareils, Lovebirds, Budgerigars, and some of the other smaller 
Parrakeets ; but you must not assume that it will do for all; indeed, 
the supposition that one mixture will answer equally well for all 
kinds of Pinches, or all kinds of Parrots, and the fact that mixtures 
