Aviary Observations. 81 



Olive Finches, Mag-pie Mannikins, Zebra Finches, and several 

 others — ye^ on hcing away from home for a time and others at- 

 tending to the hiids, most of them successfully brought ofT 

 broods! 



A question arises here: What species are there whose 

 nests can be examined without fear of their deserting- eggs or 

 young? Well, speaking from an experience extending over 

 more than thii-ty years, I dare not name a single species, ihat 

 one can be safe with, not even Zebra Finches oi Ikidgerigars, 

 for though most pairs of these two species will permit al- 

 most any amount of familiarity, yet I have lost several nests 

 of both species from this cause, and I may add here that I 

 have bred over sixty different species in my aviaries, most 

 of them for several years in succession. 



There are those, who, persistently examine eggs and 

 young for the sake of gaining knowledge as to colour of 

 the egg and the callow young in various stages of growth, 

 and who have succeeded in breeding many species too, but 

 while I admire their boldness in pursuit of the ob.je(.-t in 

 view, I ask myself, how many failures have preceded the 

 successful result? Moreover, apart from the points named, 

 such persistent interference with the birds sets up an arti- 

 ficial condition o'f things, however natural the aviary may be, 

 that renders the demeanour of the adult l)ird, anything but tliat 

 of the wild bird in its native haunts. 



Now my main object is not to discourage close observa- 

 tion, but to encourage it, neither is it to condemn the methods 

 of others, but I am seeking to show that much valuable data 

 can be secured without direct interference with nests or birds. 

 Moreover, moving in and out among our birds in the aviary 

 disturbs them but little, and for such species as build open, 

 cup -shaped nests at a low elevation, observation is easy in- 

 deed; for instance, very many visitors saw the eggs and young 

 of the Indian White-eyes and theparent birds feeding their pro- 

 geny from a distance of four to isix feet, and the birds were not 

 disturbed at all, but would go on foraging for their prey and 

 carry it to their young, taking no notice whatever of those in- 

 specting them; of course I insisted on visitors standing still 

 and not talking (even ladies) while in the aviary 



But as for taking steps or ladder into the aviary and 



