Baklo/i Aviary Notes, 191 6. g69 



Pied Chats are nesting, since yesterday I've seen them taking 

 stuff into a box over the shelter door. Why can't they do 

 these things when you're here and can see it. They only die 

 off with me through some ignorant stupidity. (Note: Can any 

 aviculturist honestly say that he has ne\"er lost a bird through 

 his own sins, either of commission or omission, through 

 ignorance perhaps, but still really his own fault)? I've kept 

 very few insectivorous birds in the breeding season, and those 

 few Pekins and White Eyes had not much special attention, 

 they just took their chance' with the seed eaters and got no 

 insect food regularly. As on this date the Pied Chats have 

 started nesting and Tailors not finished their first round, so 

 to speak, I continue my wife's letters in this Part, omitting 

 all mention of Pied Chats. Part III, will, I think be longer 

 in any case. 



It is curious that these Bush Chats should nest in a 

 bo.K and so high. I expect they did not like their mound, 

 fear of snakes perhaps, or that ass Dila Ram may have con- 

 tinued deluging it twice a day with water, a practice I 

 ordered when the mounds were new so as to get grass to bind 

 and to take off the newness of the artificial sites, but which 

 I had stopped before I Left. It all shows adaptability. The 

 Babblers, failing a thick bushy tree in which to build their 

 domed nest (one might almost call it thatched with green and 

 dead leaves) took to. a roomy (for the'm) box pretty well as 

 high up as they could get one and built a domed nest inside 

 the box, the thatching being much thinner than in a wild 

 nest. The Tailors not finding good tough hg leaves (the 

 round shaped ones) had to put up with tender hydrangea, 

 used more leaves and reinforced the nest with an extra amount 

 of lining.— G. A. P.). 



May 26th. — Only one young Tailor can be seen but 

 it seems fit. Babblers still fussing about. Giving meat and 

 grubs as well now, great exertion getting them out of Dila 

 Ram. (Not over keen on maggots for young, especially as 

 D.R. won't clean them and I left tlieni out of my instruc- 

 tions.— G. A, P.). 



