My Birds — In Aviaries and at Liberty. 6i 



My small bird aviary contains several pairs of Zebra 

 Finches, a cock Diamond Sparrow, Ruficauda Finches, Orange- 

 breasted Waxbills, Avadavats, and Diamond Doves. I had 

 bad luck with the Diamond Sparrows, as the hen died of egg- 

 binding a short time ago. I had had them for eighteen months 

 when she died, and, though they liad played at nesting 

 continually, it was not until quite recently that they really gave 

 their minds to it. and then, of course, the hen died of this 

 arch-enemy of those who would breed Australian finches. 



I lost a hen Ruficauda from the same complaint last 

 autumn. The cock constructed a most artistic little domed nest 

 of raffia in a privet bush. 



T find Ruficaudas most willing to breed, and I've no 

 doubt they would be successful even in a small aviary if the 

 hens were not so subject to egg-binding. I am disposing of all 

 my small birds except the remaining pair of Ruficaudas, the 

 Waxbills and the Avadavats, which I shall try at liberty again 

 this summer. They were all loose last year from July until the 

 end of September, and all stayed well, except four pairs of 

 Common Waxbills, which were unsteady from the moment they 

 were let out, and soon departed. 



I hope to breed from the Ruficaudas at liberty this year. 



A pair of Red-rumps (Pscphotus haematonotus) have an 



aviary to themselves, and are the most assiduous breeders and 



m.odel parents. The cock was bred by Captain Reeve. They 



have young in the nest as I write (February 28th). 



In another aviary are a pair (?) of Peach-faced Lovebirds 

 (A gapornis roseicollis). I have had them now for eighteen 

 months; but carefully as I have watched them, I do not yet 

 know for certain whether they are a pair or not. As far as T 

 can see, they are both identically alike in every detail. Is there 

 any distinction between the sexes ? 



Indoors, in cages, are a Senegal Parrot and a Golden- 

 fronted Malabar Green Bulbul. The latter is an extremely 

 persistent, and at times agreeable songster, though sometimes 

 he indulges in a harsh, starling-Hke chatter, which is most 

 m;pleasant. In fact his song is an odd medley of the notes of a 

 Nightingale, a Blackbird and a Starling. He is fed on malted 

 milk, honey, and sponge cake, with ripe fruit daily, and any 



