12 vW/ Aviary arid Gouldian Finches. 



In summer these doors stand ojx-n, hut in winter the 

 hirds fly in and out through a small trap door, which can 

 be ch:)sed. 



The flights are boarded two feet at the bottom and 

 above that consist of a light frame-work covered with wire- 

 netting. As the position is very wind-swept, I have since 

 sheltered the outer corners with glass lights and iron sheeting, 

 Ashmansworth stands about 800 feet above sea level, on the 

 top of the Hampshire Downs. The mean temperature is low 

 and we are subject to furious gales and a good deal of white 

 mist in winter. The soil is clay on chalk. Each spring 

 Scotch fir branches are fixed up thickly in the shelters, a few 

 are alsc put in the outer corners of the flight, where the top 

 is covered with iron. The only growing cover is afl'orded by 

 Jerusalem Artichokes, 



In small aviaries I find bushes a mistake, as they 

 encourage birds to roost outside in winter. In winter I cut 

 down the artichokea and remove the fir branches from the 

 flights, and nearly all the birds sleep in the shelters. 



The floors of the shelter sheds are of concrete, while the 

 flights are turfed, with a strip of gravel next to the shed. 



All food is given in earthen pots, which are placed 

 in trays hung from the roof of the shelters, and a large 

 earthenware saucer of water is in each flight. 



My Gouldian Finches: These have bred remarkably 

 well in my aviary during the two seasons. 



I may say that I have only kept these birds in a small 

 way, but as no species has given more disappointment to 

 aviculturists, than the Gouldian Finch, any marked success 

 with it ought to be worth recording. 



About twenty years ago I used to try to keep this 

 lovely species, but like most people, I found them very un- 

 satisfactory. In those days 1 tried to keep them warm, never 

 venturing to turn them out of doors. Invariably they died in 

 a few weeks or months. 



Once, 1 had a present of a dozen privately imported 

 birds. They were in perfect condition, but they soon dropped 

 off one by one. 



