228 



pretty squatting" there vvitli their miniature Owl-like 

 heads just in view. Had the weather been anything like 

 I should have predicted a very happy time for them. 

 But— but— the constant rain was too upsetting, and they 

 <Ieserted their home for a more substantial one, and are 

 now enjoying the comforts of a sensible roof over their 

 heads. 



I feel sure that when acclimatised these Finches 

 would do well in an open-air aviar}-, as the)' seem to 

 require a certain amount of live insect food. Perhaps 

 the good health my birds have always enjoyed is due to 

 their frequent treats of small insects given on the leaves 

 just as I come across them in the garden, and of course 

 the birds themselves meet with many such delicacies 

 during the summer months. 



I do not anticipate much joy from the Quails, 

 though they are exceedingl}- pretty and are always 

 greatly admired. Unfortunately my aviary is minus the 

 long grass it once possessed (a si7ie qua non if young 

 Ouails are to be reared, so I am told) and even if planted 

 again the many little inhabitants would quickly destroy 

 it. vSo I suppose I must be content with my present 

 pair, and look forward to something more satisfactory at 

 a future date. 



The Doves are rather apathetic, and perch most 

 of the day on a ladder apart from their companions, and 

 apparently indifterent to the wars and strifes around 

 them. They may improve as time goes on— I am 

 hoping so. L. Button. 



REVIEW. 



" Meating Of' and Feeding Soft-bills. By John Frostick. 

 This valuable paper, which was published in our 

 pages as a serial, has now been re-printed as a sixpenny 

 pamphlet, and doubtless many of our readers will be 

 glad to have it in that form for readier reference. For 

 us to praise a work which has appeared in " Bird Notes " 

 would partake too much of the nature of that " self 



