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P. W. Teague—Gouldian Finches



way for a week or more. This is another useful hint. In addition

to the usual sand in the cages and aviaries I mix the following grit:

Save all the egg-shells from the household, bake them in the oven,,

and then smash up small; add to this some very fine flint chicken

grit, fine powdered oyster shell—or cockle shell grit—a bit of old mortar

if obtainable, and some small broken cuttlefish bone. Keep a shallow

tin of this in your aviaries as well as scattering a little on the floors.

Personally, I attach great importance to this grit mixture, and you

will be amazed at the quantity they will eat. I know some people

deprecate the use of egg-shells on account, they say, of it teaching

the birds to eat eggs. I have never had a bird take to this bad habit,

although I have kept and reared birds rather longer than I care

to remember. I have never had Gouldians to eat cuttlefish bone

from the piece but they will eat a little when broken up into small

pieces. When kept in cages they are fond of pecking at rock salt,

but I never see them do so in the aviaries. My birds usually get cold

boiled water to drink and bathe in, and I only give them a bath on

very favourable days in winter. I prefer to boast of having a live bird

to a clean dead one. To those who can arrange it, don’t leave the bath

water in the aviaries after lunch in our treacherous climate. This

refers more especially to winter. The Gouldians love to bathe by rubbing

themselves in wet grass, so lightly sprinkle a turf of grass for a change.


Now how to use and mix the Virol: I cannot speak too highly

of this, for I have given it a thorough test and I have used it regularly

on my Gouldians the last four years. Prepare it in the proportion

of one teaspoonful to half a pint of warm water—not boiling. When

first starting to give this, make the solution weaker for the first few

times. This Virol solution I give two or three times a week, if weather

not too hot—and almost daily during the winter and when moulting.

Continue its use on the young stock until after they moult. The birds

get to like it and I have seen them drink this solution in preference

to plain water. It should be mixed fresh daily, and economize by giving

only sufficient for the day if possible, and take care to place the Virol

water out of the sun. I have had some wonderful results from its use

combined with my other methods given above—good health in stock,

large percentage of fertile eggs, and vigorous young birds. The one



