Some Experiences of an Avicultwist. 297


SOME EXPERIENCES OF AN AVICULTURIST.


By Archibald Simpson,


I fear I am unable to add anything to the sum of knowledge

already possessed by those who have made aviculture either a

scientific pursuit or a mere hobby, but it has been stated by more

than one writer on the subject that it is often possible to learn

something from the non-success of others, in which case the

present article may be justified as it certainly furnishes a most

unhappy record of failure.


I have kept foreign birds continuously for the past fifteen

years, but a limited purse has confined my experience to the

commoner varieties; indeed had the lovely corpses which have

passed through my hands represented the expensive sorts I

should now be a charge on the Parish funds. Nevertheless, I

have derived more real pleasure from this form of extravagance

than I could have got from a like expenditure in other directions*

and therefore I ought to be satisfied.


It has been a painful surprise that my efforts to induce

birds to bteed have not met with a larger reward, but the fact

must be chronicled that I have been singularly unlucky, as not¬

withstanding my feathered friends have had suitable food, ample

accommodation and freedom from disturbing influences they

have rarely got beyond eggs.


I originally started with an indoor aviary, devoting a large

room to the purpose, which was fitted up in the most approved

fashion, the walls being covered with twiggy branches from dead

trees, washed river sand spread on.the floor to a depth of one inch

or so, provision being made for possible nesting by a plentiful

supply of cokeruut husks, boxes and small wicker cages, arranged

about the room at such spots as appeared to me to be most

seductive. Barge shallow earthenware dishes were filled with,

white and Indian millet and Canary seeds and a self-filling water

fountain, also lumps of rock salt and fine oyster shell grit com¬

pleted the commissariat department. The room was lighted from

the top by a skylight which could be opened, and indeed was

only closed in winter, the aperture being covered with wire

netting to prevent the escape of even the smallest bird. The



