148 



Hbout 6ome of inv> Bii&e. 



By Mrs. E. Warren Vernon. 



At present I am not the happy possessor of an 

 out-door aviary but I hope to build one later. 



I have some very large cages, made to my designs ; 

 one is i^yds. long, 3ft. 6in. wide, and 2ft. 6in. high. 

 In it I keep Combassous, Avadavats, a Diamond 

 Sparrow, and Waxbills. They live always in an open 

 bow window, and seem to thrive. They are all very 

 tame, and come out in the morning for a fly, returning 

 to their cage themselves. The way they bathe is very 

 amusing. The Diamond Sparrow always starts, while 

 three Waxbills sit on the edge of the bath and enjoy 

 the spray. The moment he has finished they all three 

 tumble in and have their turn. It is quite " mixed 

 bathing," and when over, the drenched little objects 

 sit about on the sand very like human beings to get 

 dry enough before " doing themselves up." 



The Diamond Sparrow has fallen in love with the 

 Avadavat and follows him about, letting him take his 

 mealworms away, and singing his ridiculous song 

 to him. 



The Combassous are most unhappily married. 

 He pecks her and drives her from him whenever they 

 meet. She sits as far from him as possible. Very 

 likely when he comes into colour, he may be more 

 amiable, but at present he is simply horrid to her. 

 She spends a great deal of time asleep trying to forget, 

 poor little thing. 



In another cage, nearly as big, I have four pairs as 

 follows : — Siskins, Zebra Finches, Tri-colored Nuns 

 and Saffrons. I have a wire frame put into the window 

 and let them out for a fly. Then I let out a very 



