Feeding and Keeping HardbiUs. 71 



At the same time will be gathered together a wealth of 

 information upon song, courting", period of incubation, nest 

 formation, how young are reared, fed, etc., making the 

 successful keeping of birds a source of unending interest and 

 pleasure. Such an one will make failures the stepping stone 

 to future success, for he, or she, will learn wherein they have 

 failed, and provide the remedy in the future. 



A first principle of breeding any species of bird is, that 

 only birds that are perfectly fit, both as to plumage and health, 

 should be put up for breeding — this applies both to attempts at 

 breeding in aviaries and cages. 



If space permits the flights should be planted sufficiently 

 with trees and bushes to supply not only perching accommoda- 

 tion, but cover also, yet must be sufficiently open to leave space 

 fcr flight exercise and to freely admit air and light to pass to 

 the ground, otherwise the place w^ould soon become dank and 

 unwholesome — the aim being to induce the construction of 

 natural nests in tree or bush, but a goodly number of artificial 

 nest receptacles should be provided, these principally dispersed 

 about the shelter and covered portion of flight, with the entrance- 

 hcles always facing the light. Such forms as: 

 Coco-nut husks Rustic log-nests 



Coco-nut shell nests Travelling cages. 



Rush bottle-shaped nests Square boxes, top hinged, round 



Hartz travelling cages hole at one side for entrance. 



Old straw hats Straw covers from bottles, 



cnn all be used with advantage, and there should be many more 

 than there are pairs of birds, so as to allow ample choice, and 

 thus obviate, as far as possible, pairs quarrelling for the same 

 nest — though tw^o pairs fighting for the same nest cannot be 

 entirely prevented, it is a wise precaution to take. 



In planting a breeding flight, when choosing the bushes, 

 etc., one must keep in view the object, and also English 

 v/eather- while a wet season, providing it is not cold as well, 

 is usually the most prolific in breeding results, yet some discrim- 

 11 ation must be used as to what natural cover is provided. 

 There are two points to keep before one, viz : 



(i ) Such foliage as will afford some protection against 



deluging rains. 

 (2) Forked branches for nesting sites. 



