HARDWJCKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



75 



The following is an approximately complete list of 

 the various colours : 



Fruits. Seeds. Receptacles. Ovary. Totals. 



BREEDING FOREIGN BIRDS IN ENGLAND, 

 A PLEASANT AND PROFITABLE IN- 

 DUSTRY. 



By W. T. Greene, M.A., M.D., F.S.S., &c. 



IF it be true, as Xavier Lemaistre in one of his 

 inimitable romances, has declared, that " the 

 inauguration of a new industry is a praiseworthy 

 achievement," some modicum of credit may, doubt- 

 less, be granted to the individual who not exactly 

 introduces, but brings into more prominent notice, 

 an occupation which has not been followed to any 

 great extent in this country, notwithstanding the 

 interest with which it is replete, [and the success 

 which is sure to ensue, when the details are carried 

 out with intelligence and care. 



It has for some years been the custom, in Antwerp 

 and other Continental cities, to breed large numbers 

 of different kinds of foreign cage-birds, chiefly for the 

 English market; and though we cannot, in these 

 smoke-begrimed isles, boast of the climatic advan- 

 tages enjoyed by our neighbours d^02itre vicr, it is 

 nevertheless quite practicable, even here, to emulate 

 their success ; and the reward of our endeavours will 

 be twofold — not only profitable, but full of pleasure. 



Although, at first sight, it does seem impossible 

 that the gorgeous denizens of dense tropical and 

 sub-tropical forests .should ever be induced to live, 

 much less to breed, in our English climate, experi- 

 ence has proved that many different species of 

 Australian and American birds can be acclimatised 

 in our aviaries without the slightest difficulty, are 

 very much more easily reared than the noisy, 

 shrieking, uninteresting canary which, until lately, 

 was almost our only exotic cage-bird, and are not, 

 in fact, one whit more delicate than our native tits 

 and sparrows. 



The prospective breeder will of course endeavour 

 to ensure the most favourable conditions possible for 

 carrying out his experiment, in the shape of suitably 

 constructed aviaries, or rooms appropriately furnished 

 with a southern, or at least a south-western aspect. A 

 garden-aviary may very readily be built against a south 

 wall, and be constructed of the small meshed wire- 

 netting obtainable of any ironmonger : a portion of the 



aviary, which, altogether, should not be less than six 

 or eight feet in length, by four to six feet in width, and 

 as high as possible, for each pair of birds, must be of 

 wood covered with felt, and be furnished with a glass 

 window, which can be replaced by a wire frame in 

 the summer ; a small doorway, with a trap attached 

 that can be raised and lowered at the . owner's 

 pleasure, will afford the birds a ready mode of ingress 

 and e.xit from the open to the covered-in portion of 

 their abode ; the nest boxes must be placed in the 

 latter, and the inmates must not be crowded, if 

 success is to be achieved ; for the larger the space at 

 their disposal, the healthier will be the birds, and 

 the more likely to lay and rear their young. 



Except in the case of some of the smaller finches, 

 it will be useless to plant trees or shrubs in the 

 aviaries, for the birds pick them to pieces directly, 

 but the uncovered part of the enclosure should be 

 laid down with grass, and bundles of dry birch 

 branches (pea-stakes) may be advantageously disposed 

 about the place. So much for general directions : 

 as we proceed, I shall briefly indicate the most suit- 

 able nesting appliances for each of the few species 

 I propose passing in review, as best adapted for 

 commencing amateurs. 



The budgerigar, or undulated grass-parakeet, is a 

 deservedly popular favourite, no less" from its beauty 

 than its great docility, and the readiness with which 

 it adapts itself to its novel surroundings, often breed- 

 ing under the most unfavourable conditions. It is 

 quite hardy, and may be wintered out of doors with 

 perfect safety. It breeds four or five times in the 

 year, producing from three to six young ones each 

 time; and as these birds are readily sold for i^s. 

 a pair, it will be seen that a few couples will amply 

 pay for their keep, which consists of canary and 

 white millet seed, a few oats, some soaked bread, and 

 plenty of green food, such as grass, lettuce, &c. 

 Fresh water must be supplied daily, or better still, 

 where practicable, a small stream be conducted 

 through the aviary ; nor must lime rubbish, or 

 pounded cuttle-fish shells be forgotten, and this 

 remark applies equally to all kinds of cage-birds. 

 The budgerigar prefers a cocoa-nut husk for a 

 nesting-place, this should have a small hole made at 

 one end and be suspended as high up in the aviary, 

 or room, as possible, to keep it out of the way of the 

 mice. The budgerigar makes use of no nesting 

 material, and returns to the same husk time after time 

 if undisturbed. If more than one couple be kept in 

 the same place, it will be necessary to supply three 

 husks to each pair of birds, otherwise there will be 

 quarrels, and the chance of rearing young birds 

 seriously jeopardised. The male budgerigar can be 

 readily distinguished from his mate by his blue nose ; 

 that of the female being white, or buff, according to 

 the age of the specimen. 



Among other Australian parakeets which are hardy 

 and desirable inmates of the aviary, I may mention 



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