Winston S. Rowe—The Indian Crested Bunting and other Birds 155



and all guaranteed true pairs. Mr. Johnson supplied me with this

pair and the cock enjoys singing lustily at 6.30 a.m. and right through

the day until dusk. The Mesias, when fed at 8 a.m. daily, always

go firstly for the chopped grape and then for the meal-worms. Grapes

are cut with scissors into about six pieces and I find that they are

preferred this way. A pair of Virginian Cardinals would not touch

any fruit until I cut up their grapes for them and now they enjoy

pear, chopped and scalded raisins, and, of course, cut grapes. The

cock of this pair (incidentally my fourth pair) also suffers, luckily,

from a singing complex. Three other cocks only sang “ Chow, chow,

chow ”, etc., gradually fading away into a final weak “ cheugh ”.

My present cock has so many notes and variations that I find it well-

nigh impossible to put the notes on paper.


Hen Virginians have always proved rather more delicate than

the cocks, and usually have a doubtful period when first turned out,

while the males seem to have constitutions of iron.


The question of the number of meal-worms to give per pair of birds

daily is quite debatable, the number varying with different authorities,

and it always appears doubtful whether the number stated is per

bird or per pair. The quantity I use at present is as follows :—



Black-headed Sibia

Silver-eared Mesia

Pekin Bobins

Virginian Cardinals

Bed-crested Finches


Other birds I have possessed


Green Cardinals

Bed-crested Cardinals

Pope Cardinals

Shama


Superb Tanager



6-8 meal-worms daily each


4~6 5 5 55 55


4- 5 „ „


5- 6


2- 3 (small) ,, ,,


d, per bird I—


4-6 meal-worms


3- 4 ,,


3-4


8-12 „


2-4



When possible two-thirds are given in the morning and the rest at

night, well before dusk.


I am indebted to Mr. A. Sheriff for advising me as to the number



