226 Visits to Members' Aviaries. 



I pair Necklace Doves {Tiirtur tigrivus). 



I pair Californian Quail {Lophotyx califurnica). 



1 (S Pintail Whydah (Vidua principalis). 



This section, like the previous one, also has plenty of 

 natural cover, yet the nests I saw therein were either on top 

 of or inside wooden nest boxes, but there were two nests in 

 bushes, in which young had been hatched but not reared, 

 presumably owing to heavy rain storms at that period, so that, 

 apparently the Green Cardinals had reasoned the matter out and 

 decided that in this deuce of a climate it was folly having too 

 airy a mansion, and their wisdom came in for my warm 

 conmiendation. 



Here, too, the competitive instinct was very apparent 

 when insect supplies were given out — there, after throw-ing 

 down a few insects, Capt. Rattigan stood, shooing off the other 

 cardinals while Mr. and Mrs. Green got enough for their babies, 

 but all the " shooing " in the world did not prevent the Greys 

 and Virginians getting a look-in — directly one of tlie (greens 

 was off guard or the aviculturist one ceased " shooing." Of the 

 two avicultural onlookers one cussed the Greys and Virginians 

 as unworthy pirates, the other silently applauded their successful 

 pertinacity. I was glad later to learn that Mr. and Mrs. 

 Green successfully reared their babies. It is astonishmg how 

 sc>on wild species adapt themselves to altered conditions. 



Equally interesting, too, to note that the offspring of 

 uncannily tame parents possess all the wild instincts of those 

 born in their native wilds, and, as soon as they have found the 

 full use of their wings, after making their exit from the nest, 

 <'ire as wild and unapproachable for a time as those freeborn. 



These three species of Cardinals, etc., made quite a nice 

 picture in their semi-natural quarters, and. though not always 

 amiable species when kept together, they maintained a sort of 

 amiable tolerance towards each other, as a rule. 



The (irey Cardinals also successfully nested and reared 

 young, but the Virginians forsook their offspring when a few 

 days old, but Capt. Rattigan succeeded in ])ringing up two In- 

 hand-feeding them with soft-food and insects. 



The Budgerigars' Aviary : This aviary, an enclosed one, 

 is mainly given up to Budgerigars, of which it contained quite a 



