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B IDisit to tbe little Zoo, Batb. 



By O. Millsum. 



A visit to any place that contains foreign birds, is always one to 

 which a true aviculturist looks forward to with feelings of intense delight, 

 and especially if he is an exhibitor of insatiable curiosity. As to the former 

 feelings, one can readily understand them, but to comprehend the latter, 

 one must be an exhibitor and a keen one. Then one can fully fall in with 

 the view that curiosity enters largely into the promised joys. Perhaps a 

 better way would be to define it ' ; a thirst for knowledge and comparison 

 of one method with another." I mentioned that it was with feelings of 

 curiosity that an exhibitor approaches a collection of birds, more especially 

 if they are rare and choice species. In the first place he goes with the 

 intention of adding another star to his team ; secondly he goes with a view 

 to criticise and coolly calculate what chance his birds would have if they 

 were to meet the strangers on the show bench. Then again, apart from 

 these reasons, the visiting of aviaries, bird-rooms or dealer's collections, 

 affords one an excellent chance of adding to one's knowledge of the many 

 beautiful species that, are included in that all too vague term "Foreign 

 Birds." Each year numerous additions are being made to the list ttiat are 

 brought to this country, and consequently visits made to the various 

 importers are certain to be repaid by the seeing at least of a few specimens 

 new to this country. Then again, one ought never be too old to acquire 

 knowledge, and many, many useful tips may be gained during these visits. 

 It may be in the feeding of his stock, or it may be in the housing, but 

 take my advice, if you visit, keep your eyes open, and should you see 

 anything you don't understand, do not be afraid to ask about it, for its all 

 " Threadneedle Street to an Orange " that he will only be too pleased to give 

 you the fullest particulars, and pleased to think that he has an appreciative 

 listener, or at any rate a hearer who has found something out of the 

 common amongst his collection. Some will say "but some will not part 

 with their little secrets, and would feel offended if one asked for a little 

 iinformation." Nonsense ! the majority of aviculturists are only too pleased 

 to give all the help and advice they can. At least this is my experience. There 

 are a few about, it is true, who are a little churlish, and the best thing when 

 asked to visit their domain, is to follow " Punch's" advice to those about 

 to marry, " Don't." 



Should your visit be to an importer, you will be interested in the 

 methods of treating the birds, and especially those specimens that you keep 

 yourself, and a chat about the habits of the birds in their native haunts is 

 sure to prove interesting and instructive. 



Being an ardent aviculturist, the prospects of a visit to Messrs. Payne 

 and Wallace, The Little Zoo, Bath, (at the expressed wish of our worthy 

 editor, who found it inconvenient to make the journey himself just at this 



