Aviary Notes for 1911. 283 



I suppose the lady was disgusted with the latter, as she never 

 made an attempt to incubate, and for some itime made na 

 attempt to nest again, the last few days however, I iiave noticed 

 she has taken possession of a husk, so, perhaps, she is going 

 to try again. 



In the next aviary I have a pair of Diamond Doves 

 who have built a nest b>ut have not got so far as eggs; a 

 pair of Bearded Tits which have made no attempt to nest, 

 and a pair of Black-headed Gouldians, which have constructed 

 a nest, but so far have not laid. 



In the third aviary I have pairs of Passerine Doves, 

 Eed-headed Gouldian Finches, and Masked Finches. The 

 Doves are a late importation and have not had time to properly 

 settle down; the Masked Finches are I fear two hens. I 

 should have said there ivere a pair of Gouldians, as unluckily 

 a cat struck the hen off the wire five days after she had 

 hatched, killing her, the widower, however, stuck to his work, 

 and to my delight, reared the four motherless chicks, all of 

 which left the nest on September 8th, apparently very fit and 

 vigorous. 



These are all my breeding results for this season, Tjut 

 I am quite satisfied. I wish more of our members would try 

 their luck with Australian Finches, these seed-eating Finches 

 are wof much trouble to rear and a small outdoor aviary does 

 not take up much room. All the food I give consists of 

 white millet, canary, and spray millet, and soft food. The 

 latter is a mixture of: " Cecto " and fine " Melox " in equal 

 parts, slightly moistened. 



I sow the outdoor flight in spring with canary seed 

 and this gets well grown by the time the birds are turned 

 out, and supplies them with all the green food they require 

 during the season. As to time — I have about eiglity birds 

 and can manage to feed the lot in about half an hour. 



I am in rather a happy position as to Australian birds, 

 as I generally manage to get a few over two or three times 

 a year privately, and have at present in addition to those 

 already mentioned above, Parrot, Fire-tailed, and Eufous-tailed 

 Finches; Orange -cheeked, Orange -breasted, St. Helena and 

 Common Waxbills; Paradise, and Pin -tailed Whydahs, besides 

 a few hybrids and Britishers. 



