140 Practical Bird-Keeping. — Correspo?idence.


do I in my recently published “ Foreign Birds for Cage and Aviary,” except¬

ing as being relatives of the Bee-eaters.


According to Naunianu vegetable matter given to caged Rollers

causes their death ; but, as suggested in “ British Birds with their Nests and

Eggs,” it ought to be possible to keep them upon cockroaches, raw meat,

mice, frogs, newts, etc. Perhaps small fish might be also acceptable, I do

not know how these birds are fed in the Zoological Gardens, but doubtless

Mr. Setli-Smith would be able to tell you. A. G. BuTr.ER.



MANAGEMENT OF WADERS.


Sir, —Might I trouble you to give me some information aboutWaders ?

I read a rather glowing account of them by Mr. St. Quintin in Vol. I., N.S.,

and lately I found some correspondence written by you in Vol. V. with

many more details in it.


(1) Is it any use buying newly-caught Waders in the Spring?


(2) The aviary is 4S feet by 29 feet, boarded up all round to 21 inches ;

north side protected by two rows of various evergreen shrubs; west side,

privet; the same on the eastside. It is rather damp and on clay; the pond

was dug out about three feet below the general level, in order that a small

stream might run through it. The banks are very stiff clay, would that be

better sanded over?


(3) Is the covered-in part large enough ? It is 12ft. by 6ft. and on the

north-east side. I always find that birds will not go into my shelters if

they are covered in very much, owing to darkness or some other reason.

I can only keep the most hardy species as there is no artificial heat. The

rest of the aviary is turfed over, the covered part is sanded with seasand.


(4! Will the following birds be suitable ? a pair of each : Knots, Red¬

shanks, Common Sandpipers, Stone Curlews, Bar-tailed Godwits, with two

Ruffs and several Reeves.


I should be very pleased if you would answer me through the post or

in the Magazine. H. L. SiCH.


The following reply has been sent to Mr. Sich :—


Sir, —In reply to your queries re Waders.


(1) Waders caught on the Spring migration, viz., in April, adapt

themselves quite well to confinement. If their wings have been cut, the

stumps of the feathers should be extracted, a few at a time, as soon as they

have settled down, i.e. in two or three weeks, in order that they 111a}' regain

the power of flight as soon as possible.


(2) The clay in the aviary should be well covered over, as otherwise it

clogs on the birds’ feet. I would suggest, firstly a layer of rough gravel

and then a good layer of sand.


(3) The covered-in part is quite large enough, but as you are on a clay

and, therefore, damp soil, it would be a good plan to have part of the floor

of the shelter raised a few inches from the ground and boarded. I should

also add a few clumps of tall grass or rushes in different parts of the aviary

and keep the rest of the grass short.


(4) Your selection of birds should do very well, but I would suggest

a few more Knots to make sure of getting a pair, and you could also do

with several more Ruffs. Reeves are more difficult to procure, so get a

good stock of them if you get an opportunity.



