70 Feeding and Keeping Hardbills. 



One of the main factors to successful breeding is 

 intelligent observation ; by this I do not mean a regular inspec- 

 tion of nest interiors — far from it — for that only too often means 

 that the birds forsake the nest and find fresh quarters, but 

 rather the careful noting of demeanour and deportment of the 

 respective pairs towards each other and their respective mates — 

 for, no matter how carefully the collection has been chosen, or 

 how well they have agreed together in the past, each succeeding 

 season brings the problem as to how the pairs will behave 

 towards their neighbours — I will anticipate: " but I consulted 

 an experienced aviculturist as to what species I could keep 

 together," true, but no aviculturist living could be more definite 

 than to say, such hove agreed together in my aviary or known 

 /<■ have done so in others, for there is strong individuality in 

 birds, not only with different species of the same family, but 

 with respective pairs of the same species, thus one never can be 

 sure, it is the unexpected that happens ; hostilities will take place 

 snd very often it is a pair with good amiable reputation that 

 are the cause of a breach of the peace; therefore the need for 

 persistent observations will be at once apparent, for the results 

 of the season's breeding may be easily nullified by the 

 retention of an interfering, curious, or malicious pair of birds — 

 by intelligence I mean : the observation that will meet anything 

 fresh, especially the untoward, with an eternal why? And, 

 moreover, not be satisfied till he or she has found an answer. 

 Such observation will bear fruit in other directions, too, notably 

 in an accumulation of interesting and important data, as well as 

 the well-ordered aviary. 



I wish to be quite clear on one point — the above must not 

 b interpreted to mean that those aviculturists who must be at 

 the ofifice or in the workshop the greater part of each day. 

 cannot enjoy successful breeding results — some of the most 

 successful aviculturists are to be found among such, for all I 

 have indicated can be accomplished during the morning and 

 evening attendance on the birds. 



The culprit, or culprits, that cause a breach of the peace 

 must be arrested and removed; also, the unfit must be caught up 

 and put into the nursing ward, and remain there till they are 

 in perfect health again, for the unfit can never increase the 

 healthy bird population. 



