How I Became Interested in Foreign Birds. 87 



o*. mealworms would soon fetch the birds to the ground, and 

 one could not wish for a finer sight when the Weavers and 

 Whydahs were in full colour. 



The Weavers did not attempt to breed, but built many 

 pretty and curious nests by way of amusement. I was very 

 successful one season with Zebra Finches. I turned two or 

 three pairs out in the spring", and I had quite a host of young 

 ones by the end of the summer. 



SoFTBiLLs : I only possessed two species, viz : a Pekin 

 Nightingale and a Red-vented Bulbul ; both were delightful 

 scng'sters. I did not add to their number, as I found they were 

 nuich more difficult to cater for than Seed-eaters. 



Golden Pheasant.s : These birds make a tine addition 

 to an aviary, and look very handsome strutting about. My 

 first experience of (iolden Pheasants was to purchase two cock 

 bn-ds just showing colour, and was informed that they would 

 agree if brought up together. All went well till the breeding 

 season came round, when, to my disappointment, one day I 

 found they had been fighting, and so disfigured themselves that 

 they were obliged to go. I next procured pairs of Gold and 

 Amherst Pheasants, but found the hens so wild during the 

 breeding season that I would not be troubled with pairs, but, 

 as I so admired the plumage, I decided to have one bird simply 

 for show purposes. I procured a hybrid Gold x Amherst — a 

 handsome large bird, which became so tame that when i entered 

 the aviary with a jar of mealworms he would walk round and 

 pick them out of my hand. 



To the members who possess large and beautiful aviaries 

 and a collection of the rarer species of foreign birds these notes 

 may appear uninteresting, but I have simply related my 

 experience in order to show my willingness to comply with our 

 Editor's request. To the man of leisure with an eye to beauty. 

 L would say take up the pleasurable hobby of foreign bird 

 keeping, and you will never feel lonely or depressed amongst 

 your bright-coated and cheery friends. 



T shall be pleased to read in future copies of the Journal 

 notes from other members, on how they became interested in 

 and keep their foreign birds. 



