32 The Eiiduiaiuc of Birds. 



aj^ainst respective species. I am i)erfectly aware that on this 

 topic there is by no means a unanimity of experience among 

 avicuhurists, for some of w hicJi local conditions and situation 

 may be a sufficient explanation, but there is much that is still 

 an apparent nivstery. 



I sincerely hope that these notes (experiences) will be 

 folliQwdd. by others from the pens of a wide circle of avicul- 

 turists, also, that the subject will not Ije approached by any 

 attempt to prove any particular theory or particular school of 

 thoug'ht, but that simple, honest experience will be gi\en — from 

 such many valuable and instructive deductions should be 

 possible. 



' ' Before altenipting U) 'gi\e any list of longe\ity among 

 the birds already listed, 1 will hrst endeavour to justify ivvo 

 of the signs used in the said list, viz. : 



DAre best kept in an aviary which pcrniii.s uf ihciii being driven in ai 



night and during periods of inclement weather. 

 fAre best taken indoors for the winter months. 



1 will preface my remarks by staling that wherever the 

 facts refer only to one pair of birds, such will be stated — 

 ill the main these notes cover many pairs of each species 

 referred to, and,, of course, niiiny seasons. 



Now to return' to the sign n. It will be noted under 

 this I have included all the Whydahs, yet I am perfectly 

 aware that many keep these outside all the year round and 

 succeed; yet 1 also know that many get most annoying losses 

 during the winter and early spring. My position is this, that 

 on the whole they are a robust group, and quite able to 

 bear out-door treatment in winter, but that there is one quali- 

 fying factor, viz.: they go out of colour during our winter, 

 and it is during or immediately after this winter-moult that 

 the losses occur; further, in a dry winter my losses have 

 been practically nil, but during a wet winter season scarcely 

 a AVhydah survived the early spring months. Of course, those 

 aviaries with roomy, well-lighted shelters fare the best, and 

 in my own aviary and those of others which have come within 

 the range of my observation, whether the season were wet or 

 dry, when the birds were driven in at night, and only let 

 out during the) day at the discretion of their owners, the per- 



