14-' Same Rcfcnf Additions. 



Ijiit the Orange-breasts started pairing and carrying building- 

 material in May. as soon as they were let out. In July we at 

 last had a spell of hot. dry weather and warm nights, and T 

 hoped that a little luck might be in store. On August iSth I 

 noticed one of the Orange-breasts in one of the aviaries left 

 open for feeding and shelter, in company with an odd male of 

 tic same species. The markedly brown-shade of its beak and 

 plumage attracted my attention at once, and I saw that it was a 

 young bird and not a hen. 



Some Recent Additions. 



By Cai'taix H. S. Stokes. 



\'Ve are now busy on the construction of a third aviary, 

 the shed porton of wdiich was part of an old greenhouse just 

 demolished. It is 12ft. x 8ft. with double brick w^alls and a 

 span roof lift. high. I'he garden flight will adjoin the soft- 

 Ijills' aviary Xo. 2. and will be laid out as a garden with a pool, 

 grasspatch and borders of shrubs and flowers. Its area will 

 be about 25ft. square, and the height ranging from 12ft. in the 

 middle to 6ft. 6in. over the shed door. The birds seem to find 

 their way indoors better, and it is also easier to drive them in 

 when the top netting comes down to the level of the top of the 

 dcor. This aviary is intended for bigger birds of the Mynah 

 size, which are apt to keep smaller softbills away from the food 

 ]ians. Some of them we already have in No. 2 aviary waiting 

 for transfer, and they include a Black-necked (Irackle, a soberly 

 coloured bird about the size of a Hill Mynah, of dark brown and 

 white with a black neck and a patch of primrose coloured skin 

 round the eye. He is a most delightful bird, absolutely tame, 

 and likes to be picked uj) and scratched, when he raises his head 

 feathers and lies quite still as if mesmerised. Although usually 

 peaceable he is a])t to go for any bird not quite fit. and was, T 

 fear, partly resi^onsible for the death of oitr best Shama, whom 

 he attacked when soaking wet and unable to fly. This Crackle, 

 besides a harsh crv of annoyance and a monotonous whistle, 

 ha^; also learnt the " policeman's whistle," with variations of 

 bis own, and sings also some beautiful snatches of song, 

 obviously copied from the Shnmas and Wild Tlirushes. 



