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nOv? Bviaries n\\t> tbeir Snmatcs. 



By the Hon. Mary C. Hawk?:. 



I have been asked by the Editor to write an 

 account of my aviaries and birds. The aviary was 

 originally erected for Golden Pheasants, being after- 

 wards adapted as an aviary for foreign birds. The 

 aviar}^ is 15ft. square, with a shed at one end 5ft. wide, 

 and is divided into two enclosures. Commencing with 

 one side first, there is a shed at one end divided into 

 two, and a wire run with glass extending outside the 

 shed and the roof for about 4J feet, so that the bird.s 

 can sit outside without being subjected to wind or rain. 

 Thej^ apparently enjoy this arrangement, judging by 

 the use they make of it. In winter afternoons I drive 

 them inside the shed and shut the door ; they are let 

 out at daylight each morning. In summer I have an 

 arrangement of green rot - proof canvas, which is 

 fastened to the outside of the glass ; at night I pull it 

 over and fasten it down to the ground, which is 

 cemented round the aviary and has hooks fixed in it 

 for this purpose. This preserves the birds from getting 

 scared by stray cats, and also keeps young fledgelings 

 dry and warm. This cover draws back and the birds 

 appreciate the shade in summer. The entrance is at 

 the open wire end, where there is a double door. 



Enclosure No. i contains Many-Coloured Parra- 

 keets, Virginian Cardinals, Liothrix, Blue Breasted 

 Waxbills, Diamond Sparrows, Madagascar and Napo- 

 leon Weavers, Paradise Whydah, Combassous, Saffron 

 Finches, Goldfinches, Canaries, and a Red-breasted 

 Marsh bird. The Many-Colours laid in a log nest near 

 the corner where I enter, and brought off four young 

 ones. The Cardinals brought up one young one, a fine 



