82 



]^- gorrcApondence 



vc^ 



COCKATIELS. 



Sir, — I have just completed the rebuilding of my outdoor 

 aviary, after removal, and, after being caged for three weeks, I 

 have to-day turned out my pair of Cockatiels, in a snow storm. 



This may sound rather risk\', but the hardiness of these 

 birds is surprising. They came into my possession in January, 

 1902, and were, I have reason to believe, newly imported, or 

 had been kept caged indoors. I turned them out into an open 

 aviary after three days, and the succeeding fortnight was about 

 the worst during the winter, very cold, and a biting east wind 

 all the time. 



They did not avail themselves of the enclosed roosting 

 shed, but for some time roosted in the open. The cock bird 

 was never sick or sorry, but early in February the hen appeared 

 ailing and became much worse the next day. I concluded she 

 had taken a chill, as she sat on the perch with her head buried 

 between her wings, a perfect picture of abject misery. 



I decided it would be best to take her indoors by the fire, 

 and went to catch her for that purpose. I had no difficulty in 

 taking her from the perch with my hand, but she so promptly 

 and forcibly returned the compliment by taking hold of my 

 hand, that I let her go in a hurry and went away in disgust to 

 find a piece of rag to tie round my fingers. The illness proved 

 to be a case of egg-binding, as I found an egg on the grovind 

 the next morning, and the bird had then apparently quite 

 recovered. 



They then took possession of a four-and-a-half gallon cask 

 I had fixed up, and had five nests of eggs during the season, 

 most of which were clear, but they eventually succeeded in 

 hatching two young ones in September last. 



