BIRD NEWS 



that my finch was a male, the beau- 

 tiful plumage had led to that be- 

 lief. As the nest was mouldy from 

 frequent rains having penetrated the 

 box, I was obliged to destroy it. The 

 eggs had all spoiled, but it is doubt- 

 ful if they would have hatched even 

 under favorable conditions. Since 

 then I bought two more diamond 

 finches and "he" quit the society of 

 the disreptuable looking friend. The 

 three have made several "beds," and 

 it is possible laid more eggs for the 

 loss of which that meddlesome para- 

 keet could give an account. I am 

 hopeful o fhvaing better success with 

 them another year. 



Soon after we built the new 

 aviary, my male zebra finch died 

 from exposure, and for days the mate 

 was inconsolable. Her grief ap- 

 peared so genuine I named her the 

 "Widow," and what hysterical widow 

 she was. The constant chatter of the 

 parakeets used to give her a case of 

 "nerves," and she would cry and 

 scold until all the rest of the aviary 

 birds were upset. When he finally 

 sickened and died I did not know 

 whether it was from a broken heart, 

 or nervous prostration, but I like to 

 think it was the former for they 

 were such an affectionate, devoted 

 little couple, always admiring each 

 other. 



(To be continued.) 



The Sultan of Turkey, recently 

 granted a "new constitution," was 

 somewhat of an aviculturist. His 

 aviaries constituted a very costly 

 hobby. Birds from all over the 

 world filled innumerable cages, or 

 other enclosures. A huge staff of 

 servants was appointed to look 

 after their wants. It is to be re- 

 gretted that a close acquaintance 

 with the birds of the air did not be- 

 get within that relentless poten- 

 tate some of the finer touches of na- 

 ture, which are so characteristic of 

 our feathered pets. 



THE IJLUE JAY SHOOT 



AT SAX ANl)REi\S 



This shoot is not under the super- 

 vision of the Game Warden. Blue 

 Jay slaughter is a feature or per- 

 haps more correctly a spring enter- 

 tainment in several sections of the 

 foot hill region in California. The 

 extent of the slaughter may be any 

 where from 1000 birds per day up 

 to 8 or 100000 in the "season." Our 

 correspondent says. "The Jays kill- 

 ed here are not the crested variety, 

 but the common Sierra Jay; the 

 "flat-headed Californian" whose 

 crestless head seems the typical low 

 forehead of a villian." The bird has 

 a bad name and this character is 

 the accepted license for their slaugh- 

 ter. Many of our correspondents 

 write: "The general belief is that 

 they ai-e destructive, but of this I 

 have no personal knowledge." The 

 principal reason advanced is the al- 

 leged destruction of quail eggs. This 

 is certainly a grave "crime," for 

 such interference with an egg and 

 infancy stages of quaii Icfe, would 

 naturally interfere with the mature 

 or adult stage, when the sportsman 

 steps in and makes his "bag." As 

 fas as the quail is concerned, it 

 would seem to be merely a matter 

 of time; for notwithstanding its un- 

 doubted advantage to the agricul- 

 turist, its existence is threatened, 

 either by the maurader Jay, which 

 is shot; or by the gunner man, who 

 is permitted. Now, that the state 

 game commissions are in earnest 

 about restocking game sections, we 

 shall no doubt have the matter of 

 "Blue Jay shoots" scientifically in- 

 vestigated, and a more rational rea- 

 son than a bad name be given as 

 ' an excuse for Jay slaughter. 



That the bird is a marauder and 

 pirate is beyond doubt, nevertheless 

 he is not quite so black as he is 

 painted, as is evidenced by the in- 



