the Endurance^ of birds. 99 



cheap and common), hardy little Zebra Finch. Hardy, he 

 certainly is, yet there is no species we keep that has a heav- 

 ier percentage ot non-understandable losses. The mystery or 

 difficulty is only intensified by the fact that one year the bulk 

 of the losses will be confined to hens, but in others it will be 

 exactly vice versa I As regards this species general evi- 

 dence seems to indicate that it is not a long-lived species 

 though there are cases of decided longevity ; also that the 

 hens are very liable to so-called egg-binding, especially in bad 

 seasons — so much so, that if an aviarist started with two or 

 three pairs, and did not add thereto, in spite of their prolific- 

 ncss in the course oF a few year^ his stock would be noil est 



It is well to face our difficulties, as not only is the 

 case of one species closely analogous to others, of course, to a 

 greater or lesser degree, but facing a difficulty mostly means 

 finding the way out. I will now tabulate most of the points I 

 liave made so far, then, I thinkj I shall ha\e sujjplicd the why 

 and wherefore of the answor I shall atte.mjjt to give to the 

 query that has presented itself. 



1 . There are a few aviculturists, whose aviaries are 

 erected upon ground having a sub-soil of gravel, or gravel 

 and chalk, who are almost immune from the dangers that 

 follow in the train of damp, wet periods, and, in consequence 

 they may subject their birds to almost any extent of exposure 

 with impunity, owing to the advantage arising from well 

 drained ground. 



2. That lengthy periods of severe frost, with or 

 without snow, are nut the limes of fear, the critical period 

 arises at the thaw. 



3. Some species should be shut in during wintry 

 nights; others to be taken indoors eiuirely during the winter 

 months; while others may be left to take their own course. 

 The difficulty is, that these varying conditions do not occur 

 along well defined lines, hut may all be found amonfr the 

 species of one genus. 



4. That a lieatcd shelter, and confining the buds 

 iherclu during winter's nights and abnormal periods, or wholly 



