174 Freely imported Species and Their Treatment. 



They have nested re.q-nlarly in an oyster tub at the eastern 

 end of the aviary, which seems to be recognised by the other birds 

 as their particuhir pn-perty, and when there are young I move the 

 nestlings after about ten days into a fresh tul), and clean out the 

 old one and refill it one third full with sawdust, for the next nest 

 after the young leave the tub. 



Black-cheeked Lovebirds : The pair of Black-cheeks 

 — placed this April with the Canaries in the western division of 

 the aviary — at first showed little signs of breeding, in fact I was 

 quite uncertain if they were a true pair. However later, matters 

 developed, but with disagreeable consequences to the Canaries, for 

 a nestling of one pair was killed by the Black-cheeks just as it was 

 about ready to leave the nest, and they also commenced attacking 

 another nest. 



I then removed them into a very large outdoor cage, some 

 four feet wide by five high and two deep, and here bj^ themselves, 

 and well provided with husks and small travelling cages for nest 

 boxes ; and moss, hay, fine tree roots, and light twigs for material^ 

 they appear to be settling down. One of the nest boxes already 

 shows signs of their architectural fancies l)eing exercised. 



All the above l)irds have wintered out, in perfect health 

 and tightness of feather, throughoixt the cold weather with no 

 artificial heat. When the Pennants began to moult last August 

 they were both very seedy and I thought I should certainly lose 

 them ; l)ut I brought them indoors in a cage, and a course of 

 Parrish's Chemical Food, Epsom Salts, and bread sop, well sweet- 

 ened with brown sugar, quite restored them, and they have never 

 ailed since, and all the eight Parrakeets are in first class fettle and 

 plumage. 



Very fortunately for this North Country the situation is 

 excellent, as the aviary stands on ground sloping to the South, and 

 is sheltered on all its other sides by the old garden wall some eight 

 feet high. 



Menu : I give my Parrakeets — canary, white millet, white 

 sunflower, hemp, and inga seeds ; also fowl corn consisting of 

 wheat, oats, and maize, of which they are very fond, particularly 

 the wheat. They also get Monkey and shelled Hazel Nuts — all in 

 separate receptacles. They of course get green food. 



The water supply is in a cement bath emptying out 

 through a lead pipe. The Pennants and Red-rumps particularly 



