146 /?/>r/ Life and Sport on Achill Island . 



island that bore tlu' splciulicl hall-mark of Nature, untouched 

 and unspoiled. 



That evening found us in Ihiblin, strolling down Sack- 

 \-illc Street -a city teeming with human life and sounds, a 

 startling change from our bcLoved island, -AchiJl Island was 

 also filled with life and sound, but it was bird life and 

 bird sound, in ever-changing beauty and melody, rugged and 

 harsli occasionally— sweet and melodious too, and making 

 one harmonious whole. And so, farewell to Achill Island and 

 the Emerald Islel "It's a long, long way." 



In. these strenuous days those peaceful weeks seem 

 very far away. We are told that nothing will ever be the 

 same again after the devastating war, but — well, I hope I 

 may go back some day to Achill, and find the face of Nature 

 unchanged when next I \i5it dear Dugort and the Irish 

 mountains. 



The Endurance of Birds. 



By the Marquis of Tavistock. 



A number of articles have appeared recently dealing 

 with the endurance of birds in captivity. The following, 

 which are my own experiences with certain psittaci may be 

 of some interest to those who keep them. 



1. Complete Liberty. 



Losses /ro/Ji straying, accident, and birds of prey— heavy (Ir.sses 

 from straying can, however, be much reduced by patience and careful 

 management). 



Losses from infectious disease— -m.odcrci.iQ. 



Losses from cold and chillssma.ll. 



Losses from egg-binding— eq\iSL\ to what are incurred with cap- 

 tive birds 



Breeding results— good. 



Fertiity of eggs— very good. 



2. Liberty with a Cut Wlvg ix a Large (un- 

 covered) Grass Enclosure. 



Losses from accldenl— small if care be taken to prevent birds 

 fighting and falling from a height on to the hard ground, or against hard 

 obstacles 



