Preety Imported Species and their Treatmejii 79 



which is regurgitated by the parents, but I must add that they 

 have had free access to various soft foods, and mealworms 

 have been supplied liberally, and the failures in rearing mostly 

 occurred at a time when I did not myself realise the necessity 

 for an abundant supply of the soft and insect foods. 



When one gives one's own methods and experiences in 

 keeping any species of birds, it is not with the object of 

 implying that they are always the most correct, or that they 

 even coincide with the opinion of the majority of bird keepers, 

 but in a paper such as this, it is interesting to give one's 

 personal experiences, both from the point of view of success 

 and failure. 



So far, the weather during this winter has been about as 

 unsuitable for bird-keeping as any weather could be, but in 

 spite of rain, snow, frost and wind all my Waxbills have 

 been out of doors all the time (Surrey), and out of a consider- 

 able number, the losses have been very few, and compare very 

 favourably with the days in the past, when these birds were 

 brought indoors and caged during the winter months. 



The species thus treated include the Grey, Orange - 

 cheeked, Violet-eared, Golden-breasted (Zebra) and St. Helena 

 Waxbills ; Fire finch, Cordon Bleu and Scarlet and Green 

 Avadavats. Frequently for several mornings in succession I 

 have had to break the ice in their drinking fountains, both 

 in the shed and flight, and yet in spite of the cold, these 

 birds have kept fit and vigorous. They are always driven 

 into the shelter shed before dark {i.e. in winter), which shed 

 I may mention, is large and roomy and light, so that they 

 can get plenty of exercise when they are shut in, and it \v\ 

 double lined and quite draught -proof. It is also fitted with 

 electric light, which is left on till well on in the evening, 

 so that the birds can see to move about and feed — and thus 

 the long night is shortened. There is no heating of any kind, 

 and my impression is that if these birds have a roomy flight 

 outside, and a shelter free from draught in which to spend the 

 night, they care little about the weather. In summer the 

 windows are all left open, and I find the majority of the 

 birds prefer to sleep outside. Their favourite roosting places 

 always seem to be the laurel bushes, where the broad leaves 



