215 



the exception of some of the hardier Taiiagers, are rather 

 delicate and reqnire some warmth. 



One cannot say very mnch about the life of these birds; 

 some of mine I have had for nine years, and one has been 

 fourteen years in a cage. Tanagers and Sugar Birds should 

 be kept in as large a cage as possible. S. M. TownsEnd. 



AVICULTURAL RECOLLECTIONS. 



sSiR, — Some experiences of early bird keeping may be of 

 interest to your readers. 



I think I obtained my love of birds from my grandmother, 

 for as far back as 1872 I can remember her always having a pet 

 Bully which was exceedingly well trained and tame, had his 

 own bath rug, and took the bath every day at 8 a.m. regularly, 



I used to essay to bring up Thrushes and any other unfor- 

 tunate bird I could get, always on hard boiled egg, and always 

 with the same dire results, as I do not remember any living to 

 grow up. Then I started foreign birds. In those days heat 

 and no air " for fear tliej^ should catch cold," was what we 

 were told was absolutely a necessity for the unfortunate birds 

 if they were to survive this climate; so having bought a big 

 cage with glass all round I then got a pair of Blue Robins. 

 They were lovely birds, and lived quite three months under the 

 trying circumstances of their life — no draughts, 110 air. 



I can remember IVIr. J. Abrahams shewing me his first 

 " yellow " Budgerigar, and when the Scarlet Tanagers began 

 to come in to England he told me that rotten pear was the 

 best food for them ! At that time they were very d«ar and I 

 only looked and longed. Then I had every sort of small 

 foreigner, with ver}- bad success, as in those dark days of 

 ignorance there was no Bird Notes to enlighten us, and all 

 foreign birds were supposed to die, unless stuffed up in hot air- 

 less rooms. 



Then I bought an Amazon Parrot from Mr. Abrahams. 

 It was a wonderful talker and went round the world with me. 

 The following anecdote of her capabilities in the talking line 

 may amuse our members. As one is not allowed to have 

 parrots in a cabin on board ship she was sent to the cook, (to 



