132 Visits to Members' Aviaries. 



Plover (^^qkilith h/afiniJa) Golrlen Plover (Chara<lrhis pluvialis), Grey 

 Plover (SqiiatnrrAa helvetica), Green Plover (VauelhtH vulgaris). Dunlin 

 (TriNi/a alpina), Knot {T. eanufm). Sanderling(Ca//;^Zr/.',- rfrwiar/aj, Sandpiper 

 (Tnfaniis hi/poleitcus), Redshank {T.ral/th-ix), Rnff { ^^llt^hp^fis pufpiax), Avocets 

 (lienirrh-OHta avoceffa^, Black-tailed Godwit (Liinnm helgica) and Bar- 

 tailed Godwit iL. lapponkn). 



All the foregoin.c: with some half-dozen exceptions were 

 disporting themselves in the large section of the aviary, and 

 if the mixture was astounding, it was equally fascinating. — 

 The Common Wren, Redbreast, Wheatear, Redstart, Nightin- 

 gales, Blackcap, Stone- and Whin-chat, mingled with the smaller 

 Waders on the short grass in friendly competition, 'each seeking 

 to obtain their full share of mealworms — from the rustic 

 arbour look-out the scene was too charming for words, the 

 distinctive characteristics and deportment of the respective 

 species 'was most interesting thus brought into comparison, but 

 I must leave it for some -other occasion to deal more fully 

 with. ' , 



Associated with the above "British birds were some 

 few foreign species, I noted the following: 'Gouldian, Long- 

 tail, Ruficauda, and Diamond Gra-^s^nches, Mannikins, Waxbills, 

 and Californian Quail; while the impudent little Zebra "Finch 

 passed almost under our nose to a typical nest woven in the 

 creeper climbing over our Rustic look-out post. 



Besides the Zebra Finches, Go'dfinches were also nest- 

 ing, (and Nuthatches, Ring Ouzels, and Blackbirds gave evidence 

 of T3eing occupied with thoughts of reproducing their kind — 

 the attendant named other species as "having nests, but I made 

 •bnly mental notes, and I cannot now call to mind the species. 



I find I have said nothing about the common but al- 

 together charming Budgerigar, which co- mingles with the 

 rest in quite a charming manner, his garment of shining green, 

 forming quite a bright spot, among the somewhat dull hues 

 of our British species — incidentally our green friends are respon- 

 sible for the cut -up appearance of some of the shrubs and 

 creepers. 



I am greatly tempted to linger and rhapsodize about the 

 Stone-chat and Whin-chat, two of our most charming 'British 

 species, charming because of their beauty, and confiding and 

 fearless demeanour, but for the present must close by con- 

 gratulating Major Johnson on his unique scries of British 



