128 A Brccduig Success in a Simill Az'iary. 



in;perfectly grown feathers it would have closely resembled its 

 mother in plumage, had it survi\ed. The cock is still busy nest- 

 building, and it is just possible that they may yet go to nest 

 ibis season with happier results. 







A Breeding Success in a Small Aviary. 



By The Rev. R. H. McCall. 



Those members of the Foreign Bird Club who ha\'e large 

 ranges of aviaries, and who think nothing of breeding success- 

 fully this, that, or the other rare species, are not intended to 

 read this humble article. It is written rather as an encourage- 

 ment to the novice, and keeper of birds on a small scale, who 

 may be tempted to think that, unless you have a wilderness 

 aviary large enough to house an elephant, you cannot hope for 

 success in breeding anything except Zebra Finches. 



The enclosed photographs show the small aviary which I 

 made last summer, after much cogitation based on advice kindly 

 given by the Editor, and a careful perusal of tne various 

 articles on aviaries in Bird Notes. The house is 124ft. long. 

 6ift. wide, and 8ft. high. The flight is T2Ht. square and 9ft. 

 high. The whole is strongly made in sections, and although 

 at present somewhat ugly, it will be less so when tne creepers 

 planted round it have grown up. The roof of the house is 

 matchboard co\ered with felt, and over that (with a free air 

 space in between) corrugated iron. At the bottom of the left 

 hand window there is a small sliding shutter through which can 

 be withdrawn the food tray and water dish. 



Having made the aviary entirely myself I am naturally 

 proud of it, but. at least. I can claim that it appears to serve 

 it'; purpose, for the whole of the birds in it are in beautiful 

 condition. 



The aviary contains the usual mixed collection of Waxbills. 

 etc.. and two cock Queen Whydahs, which live together without 

 any serious breaches of the peace. A number of nests have 

 been built, but there, for the most part, the matter seems to end. 



The exception, however, has been provided by a pair of 

 Fire Finches. These h.id a nest with five eggs in ]\Iay. which 

 \\ere patientlv sat upon without result. In due course I examined 

 tiiem and found all infertile. On this occasion they adopted a 



