83 



One nest of eggs was destroyed by a pair of Madagascar 

 Love-birds, and the latter also effectually prevented my 

 Budgerigars from breeding, the whole season through. 



I also unfortunately possessed a pair of Ring-necks, and 

 the hen was terribly vicious. I attribute the death of no less 

 than thirty-two Finches to this bird alone — seven in one day. I 

 have seen her kill a Weaver with a single blow of the beak, 

 smashing the skull in. Needless to sa}', Ring - necks and 

 Madagascar Love-birds will, in future, find no place in ni}' 

 aviary. 



I have come to the conclusion that it is not policy to keep 

 Finches and Parrakeets together, although I never knew my 

 Cockatiels to interfere with even the smallest of the Waxbills. 



The measurements of my aviary are : length 14 ft,, depth 

 10 ft., height 8 ft. It consists of an enclosed roosting shed, a 

 covered flight and an open flight, — the latter is turfed. 



J. Harman. 



BULLFINCHES. 



Sir, — I wonder if any of your readers have ever had the 

 same experience with Bullfinches as I am having this year. 



I possess a dozen at present, mostly hens for hybrid 

 breeding, and of that number no fewer than five are gasping 

 and coughing ver}^ frequently, two, in fact, continuously. By 

 gasping, I mean that the beak opens and shuts with every 

 breath. 



It cannot be the conditions under which they are kept that 

 is causing this, for two are in a comfortable wooden birdroom, 

 two in an outdoor aviary, and the remaiuing one (a cock) in our 

 sitting-room. If anyone can suggest a reason and a remedy I 

 shall feel much obliged. 



Speaking about Bullfinches, how is it that they, more than 

 any other cage-bird, are such seed wasters ? Two of the cocks 

 I have had recently would simply get through any quantity 

 daily. They did not really eat much, but emptied their seed- 

 box, all the same, in a very short time. 



Wm. C. Cunningham. 



