27 



(Eorresponbcnce. 



AVIARY EXPERIENCEvS. 



Sir, — I am extremely sorry to find by Mr. Acutt's letter in 

 the February number oC Bitd Azotes that he has lost "two-thirds" 

 of his birds during the past year. My experience has been 

 somewhat different, at any rate during the past nine months. 

 I,ast Winter, that of 1904 — 5. my small collection of foreign 

 birds was kept indoors, the temperature of the room never 

 falling below 45°. In spite of the utmost care, three died of 

 pneumonia, viz., a St. Helena Seedeater, Nonpareil Bunting, 

 and a Budgerigar, all of which had been from eighteen months 

 to two years under my care. 



Last Spring I carefully read the "Hygiene of Bird Keep- 

 ing," with the result that I have tried the outdoor plan. 

 Twenty-five birds were turned into an aviary facing South on 

 the loth of June last, and a few more subsequently. Up to 

 this date, the 27th of February, all are in perfect health, with 

 the exception of a hen Combassou which died, egg-bound, in 

 October. A Cordon Bleu who seemed overcome with the cold 

 one frost}' morning, is now as well as ever. Birds reputed 

 tender, like the Australian Grassfinches, are as sleek and lively 

 as the Weavers and Java Sparrows. 



I need hardly say that egg food is never used, only Indian, 

 white, and spray millet, canary seed, with scalded ants' eggs 

 about every other day and a few meal worms daily, inostlj' 

 consumed by the Weavers and Indigo. Green food but very 

 sparingly given during the cold weather. 



Al^FRED WhPCEI.ER. 



BIRDS IN A DRAWING ROOM. 



Sir, — Having read a pleasant article in a recent number, 

 called " A Bird's Day," I should like to say a little about some 

 birds I keep, which may possibly interest some of your readers. 



I have two cages placed in different windows in a good- 

 sized sitting room ; one cage containing two hand-reared 

 cock Bullfinches, and the other two Canaries and a mule bird. 

 At certain times during the day they are allowed their liberty 



