WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 
any kind of animal substance. I do not think it safe to 
give them any putrid or stinking food, for in their wild 
state they capture their food alive, and seldom eat any 
garbage as the adjutants and storks are in the habit of 
doing. 
SWANS, DUCKS, ETC. 
These birds are more easily fed and require less attention 
than almost any other birds, their food consisting of grain, 
biscuit, and water, to which may be added a little sand or 
gravel to assist the digestion. 
To each swan rather less than a pint of barley per day 
is to be given in the water, to this one or two handfuls of 
gravel may be added, and a little biscuit now and again. 
The ducks and geese are fed in the same manner, about a 
pint of barley daily being sufficient for four ducks, gravel 
and biscuit occasionally. 
DUCKS. 
In order to keep ducks in good health while in transit, 
I find it is best to mix some sand or fine gravel with the 
food, and to have one or two mats that fit the inside of the 
bottom of the cage. The mats are soft to their feet. By 
leaving an opening that will admit of the mats being 
drawn out and washed, they are easily kept clean, and 
also prevent the feet of the birds becoming sore. 
WOOD GEOUSE {CAPERCAILLIE). 
Almost as soon as the birds are hatched they require 
some soft food, and I have supplied them with fresh ant 
eggs, so called, but in reality the pupae of the great black 
ant, — large numbers can be obtained in most pine forests ; 
custard composed of the yolks of eggs and milk ; to this 
364 
