44 



SOAKED BREAD FOR PARRAKEETS. 



A member who bred over 500 Budgerigars last year, (and 

 finds the hobb}- decidedly lucrative), informs us that he has 

 never used soaked bread for his breedinsf birds. 



dueries anb IReplies. 



All queries are answered by post. A few which appear to be of general 

 interest are published with the answers, in this Magazine. 



BREEDING GOUIvDIAN FINCHES. 



Question : Can you tell me what success I might hope for 

 in the breeding of Gouldian Finches, either red- or black- 

 heads ? I could put them in an outdoor aviary, with no glass 

 in front; or in a cage in either a cold room or in hot-houses 

 kept at various temperatures. 



I noticed an article by Lady Dunleath, in which she 

 mentions that hers bred in an outdoor aviary. Would this be 

 likely to be an open aviary ; that is to say with no glass } 



E. W. C. 



Answer : Gouldian Finches, both Red-headed and Black- 

 headed, have been bred fairly often in this country. Like all 

 birds, other than domesticated races such as Canaries and 

 Bengalese, they are much more easily bred in aviaries than in 

 cages, and in outdoor aviaries than in indoor ones. Outdoor 

 aviaries are better without glass— except that a glass screen 

 may sometimes be useful as a shelter from the wind in an 

 exposed situation. The birds intended for breeding should be 

 put out in May, on a fine, warm day. It will be well to bring 

 them indoors again in November. If the aviary is turfed, the 

 Gouldian Finches will require nothing beyond their ordinary 

 seed for rearing their young. If there is no turf, some kind of 

 green food must be regularly supplied. A lump of rock salt, 

 moistened daily, has been recommended for these and other 

 birds — I cannot say that my birds have ever appreciated this 

 delicacy. H. R. F. 



