269 



CHAFFINCHES AT THE WINDOW. 



Sir, — Perhaps the following facts by an eye witness may 

 interest some of the readers of this Magazine. 



Last Sunday evening (Nov. 26th) about seven o'clock, when 

 a gale from the S.W. was blowing, a tapping and faint fluttering 

 saund was heard against one of the windows of the room where 

 two or three of us were sitting; no attention was paid to this 

 at first; we thought it might come from a spra3'of ivy loosened 

 by the force of the wind, but finding it continued and that the 

 fluttering sound was more distinct, we decided it must be a bird 

 asking for admittance, and accordingly opened a few inches of 

 the lower window sash ; immediately a cock ChaffiMch in full 

 plumage with very bright eyes hopped in, and flew round and 

 round the room, knocking its head against the ceiling, and 

 perching for a second on picture frames and curtains, &c,, then 

 down to the floor, when it was easily caught and placed care- 

 fully in a small travelling cage. A short time afterwards, less 

 than half an hour, a similar sound of tapping and fluttering 

 was heard outside another window of the same room, and on 

 opening it a second cock Chafiinch almost tumbled in, in its 

 eagerness, and flew up to the ceiling with a loud chirp of joy, 

 its eyes even brighter than the other's, evidently delighted at 

 finding himself safe and sheltered from the storm. We soon 

 caught and placed him in the cage with the first one, where 

 they rested quietly all night, and were released the next morn- 

 ing when the gale had gone down. The poor little birds must 

 have been roosting together, and on being dislodged by the 

 violence of the wind, were attracted to the windows by the light 

 shining through the blinds, to look for shelter. It seems 

 curious that tlie}^ should have found their way to different 

 windows, one facing North East, the other South East, of the 

 same room. N. M. E. Ward. 



MOLES IN THE AVIARY, &c. 



Sir, — Please tell me through Bird Notes how to keep moles 

 out of my garden aviary ; we have traps set inside and all 

 round, but so far have caught none, and they make fresh heaps 

 every night. 



Also, is it wise to allow Budgerigars to nest at this time of 

 year.' If it is risky how can I prevent them.? 



I have also a cock Rosella Parrakeet, which has been in 

 perfect health for some years till just now, when he has taken 

 to panting, and at times gasping for breath ; he feeds well and 



