Visits to Members* Aviaries and Birdrooms. 255 



taking tea we were entertained by the antics and speech of 

 an attractive Grey Parrot. 



The Aviary : Some distance from the house in the 

 middle of a large piece of wild ground, bordered all round 

 by trees and shrubs stood the aviary. The flight, 20 x 12ft. 

 with a shelter at the back. "B.N." members will remem- 

 ber that in 191 4 the first aviary was burnt to the ground, 

 the present aviary erected on the same site is practically 

 fireproof as regards the shelter; nothing has been neglected 

 that would tend to the safety and comfort of the birds — the 

 shelter is heated during the winter months. The walls are 

 of brick and the roof is first asbestos, then wood with an 

 outer covering of " rubberoid." The shelter is fitted with a 

 sliding door, and has/ a concrete floor. The flighjt is of half- 

 inch mesi'i netting on a fight wood framing, the netting being 

 carried deeply into the ground to exclude rats. The ground 

 is covered with rough grass and there are several evergreen 

 shrubs, in one of which was a well made nest, built by Cuban 

 Finches, from which one brood had already flown, it contained 

 at the time of my visit two half-fledged young, which have 

 since lefi the nest. While from another nest came the noisy 

 call of baby Zebra Finches yelling for food. Only seed- 

 waters arc kept, of which Miss Lucas has kindly supplied a 

 list. 



I pair Himalayan Siskins {Chrysoinitris spinoides). 



I pair Green Singing Finches {Seriniis icterus). 



I cock Common Firffinch {Lagonosticta minima). 



I hen Bar-bre.istcd Firefinch {L. rnjopicfa). 



I pair Spice Finclies {Mania puncltiluta).. 



I pair Cuban Finches {Phonipara canora). i 



I pail Zebra Finches {Taeniopygiu caslanolis). 



I pair Bcngalese {Miinia domcsticn). 



I pair St. Helena \\'axbills {Eslrildu ustrilda). 



I jiair Grey Waxbills {E. Cincrea). 



I lien Quail Finch {Orlygospiza polyzona). 



I Red Avadavat {Sporarginihiis anumclava). 



I cock Jacarini Finch {Voladniii jticarini). 



I pair Abyssinian Sparrows {Passer lutctis). 



ilie following young have been successfully reared. 

 5 Cuban Finches. 

 3 St. Helena W a.\bills. 

 5 Zebra Finches. 



