104 '^'^"" hn'crcsk I.odi^c Aviary. 



tills the water Hows by a shallow channel into another pond. 

 This is a favourite resort of the wadin,!^ birds, bein.^- only a few 

 inches in depth, and it is intended to plant it out with suitable 

 vegetation to form a swamp. T^^rom this the water passes out 

 of the aviary by a vermin-proof drain. 



It will be observed that the shelter does not occupy the 

 full width of the enclosure. Advantas^e has been taken of this 

 fact to make the entrance door (seen on the ri^ht) ]iass into a 

 commodious lobby with stora.^e accommodation, at the end of 

 which the outer door is placed. 



The aviary has only been established a few months, its 

 first inmates having been introduced on 24th December, 1922. 

 and it will be seen that rough growth is well forward on the 

 bank that has been thrown up for the full length, the other side — 

 a sandy and gravelly " beach "--being kept fairly clear of 

 growth. While the aviary is intended principally to house 

 waders, it is by no means confined to this class of birds, and 

 the head of the wall on both sides of the interior of the shelter 

 is partitioned off into: small compartments in which a variety of 

 nesting receptacles are placed. A shelf similarly fitted runs 

 across the back wall. Another pair of shelves about five feet 

 from the ground will be seen, on which seed boxes, etc, are 

 placed. 



As has been said, the aviary is of but recent construction, 

 and the acquisition of a representative collection of waders is a 

 slow process. Still a wonderfully interesting and varied group 

 have been got together in a short time, comprising: — 



Knot (Triuga canntus). 

 Dunlin (T. alpina). 

 Redshank {Totanus calidris). 

 Golden Plover {Charadr'ms phi'-'uilis). 

 Peewit (Vanellus vulgaris). 

 Ruff.s (Machetes pugnax). 

 Oyster-Catcher (Hacinatopiis ostralegus). 

 Spur-winged Plover (Hnploptcnis spiiiosus). 



Of these, at the time of writing, the Golden Plover are in full 

 summer plumage, the Dimlin exhibiting in an interesting way 

 various stages of the same dress. One of the Knots is an 

 out-standing bird, shownng the level deep salmon-brown of the 

 nuptial plumage to perfection. The four Ruffs — importations 



