82 Keeping and Feeding Hardbills. 



Necklace Doves, no young have been reared. One young 

 Cabot's w^as hatched, but died same day, also two young 

 Peacock Pheasants, one of which survives. Of the larger birds 

 and waterfowl, twelve young Patagonian Geese were hatched, 

 eleven of which are doing well. Rosy-billed Ducks are sitting, 

 a'^ is my male Demoiselle Crane, 0)1 a full clutch of pebbles. 

 Why the hen Crane does not lay I do not know, as she is very 

 active and healthy. I am afraid that the " Boyers " aviaries 

 are not likely to have a very successful season, but I have one 

 or two interesting species, new to aviculture, and, if these 

 should do anything, shall write again later on. 



Keeping and Feeding Hardbills. 



By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U, 

 {Continued from page 24). 



Hardbills in Cages : Type and size of cage is, of course, 

 the matter of paramount importance in this section of my 

 subject. I will confess at once to a strong prejudice against 

 cili wire cages, and to any with an all-wire top, and I certainly 

 shall not recommend them — in my opinion such cages are largely 

 responsible for many cases of vertigo which we hear of every 

 now and again ; a good many inquiries have reached me concern- 

 ing this trouble (Parrots and Parrakeets are not included here; 

 this group will form the last section of this article), and, 

 invariably, the patients have been kept in all- wire and open-top 

 cages — then again in such cages birds have no protection from 

 ?ny cold winds or draughts with which they come in contact — 

 therefore my advice is do not use them. 



This leaves us only the box-type cage, and these need 

 not disfigure any room, be it in cottage or mansion. A plain, 

 neatly-made box-cage, with a straight wire-front, distempered 

 i'Tside with pale sea-green washable distemper, and stained on 

 the outside with some black, or dull mahogany-colour varnish 

 stain is really handsome. Many cages grotesquely ornamented 

 are offered for sale; they may be pretty, but they certainly are 

 not handsome, and there is a vast difference between pretty and 

 handsome. A plain, unadorned cage is the latter and will not 

 be an offensive object in any room. 



