86 Hoiv I HccoDic Interested in Foreign Birds. 



b', renewed, as the birds were merely in the moult (yes, 1 

 happened to remember reading about French moult). Needless 

 to say, I did not part with my half-guinea, which was the sum 

 asked for the birds, but was wise enough to ask the shopkeeper 

 \z return the birds and get me a pair in decent plumage. The 

 second pair arrived, which 1 purchased. The cock was healthy 

 and strong, but the hen, 1 afterwards discovered, had an 

 injured wing and deformed feet, and did nothing but scurry 

 away when anyone approached the aviary, shrieking as though 

 she was being murdered. This bird eventually committed 

 suicide in the bath — another disappointment ! However, I 



purchased another hen, which soon became attached to its 

 partner, and in due time I had the pleasure of a brood of young 

 Cockateels. 



I was next interested in the lovely Red Rosella Parrakeet, 

 and purchased a pair of aviary-bred birds from a lady's aviary 

 ivi Derbyshire; these I considered gorgeous, and spent many 

 happy moments observing their lovely plumage. One morning 

 1 was coming out of the aviary, and not being cautious enough, 

 t',e hen flew over my head and went soaring away. Yet another 

 disappointment! I sent away for another hen, which turned 

 out to be a cock; disgusted, I then exchanged the Rosellas for a 

 pair of Red-rumps from an outdoor aviary. These birds soon 

 settled down, and, to my great pleasure this time, 1 was 

 successful in breeding with this pair, and sold several birds, 

 which made up for past losses. I have also kept Quaker and 

 Plossom-headed Parrakeets; the latter are extremely nice aviary 

 birds, but the former I did not keep long owing to their 

 screaming propensities. 



P^iNCHKS : After keeping Parrakeets for a few years, my 

 ir.terest turned towards foreign finches, not particularly with 

 the idea of breeding, but in order to have a variety of colour. 

 Ihe Weavers and Whydahs afforded me much pleasure and 

 interest when the breeding season came round to watch their 

 change of plumage from the sparrow-like appearance of the 

 winter season to their gaudy but beautiful summer dress. 



T had the following species as a mixed collection : White 

 and (Trey Java Sparrows, Orange Bishops. Madagascar 

 Weavers, Whydahs, etc., and a few Budgerigars. A handful 



