All rights reserved.'] [JANUARY, 1908. 



BIRD NOTES: 



THE JOURNAI, OF 



THE FOREIGN BIRD CLUB. 



nD\) Hviaries anb their Sinnatee in 1907- 



By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S. 



This record must open with an apology for inflicting more 

 of my own composition, but memljers have evidently forgotten 

 that there is a January issue of Bud Notes, so this is written 

 :against time to meet the emergency. 



The Aviary : Plate I., is not as it was in 1907 but several 

 years ago, when its inmates were less in number and less varied 

 ■in kind, consisting mainly of Waxbillsand the smaller Finches; 

 now their number and variety have increased, all the growth 

 lias disappeared, the onl\' greenery the birds will permit to 

 grow is rape, oats, wheat, etc. A detailed description is not 

 •called for, as the photos and the ground plan fully describe 

 this: briefly, its area is about 25ft. x 12ft. x 8ft. high, with a 

 lean-to shed at back, the shed being entirely open at front. No 

 •design was attempted, the object being to enclose a piece of 

 the garden as unobtrusively as possilile, the whole being 

 painted with brunswick black. As it appears at present is 

 figured on plate II., which also includes a portion of my out- 

 <loor bird-ioom, which is really a greenhonse. All the enclosures 

 therein have wooden tops 6 inches below the glass, and I find 

 it answers its purpose admirabl}'. The only part of the aviary 

 which is covered in is the shelter shed, loft. x 42ft., all the 

 other being open at top and front ; the sides and back consist 

 •of boundary walls. It has fully answered its purpose and the 

 death rate has Ijeen very low. I have almost regretted so 

 increasing the number of its inmates, that the beautiful effect 

 of a jungly growth of plants and bushes has disappeared ; the 

 ciiarm of seeing Gouldians, Waxbills, etc., among the green 

 foliage, only lasted two years, and is now but a memory. But I 



