Sotne Experiences of an Aviculturist. 327


SOME EXPERIENCES OF AN AVICULTURIST.


By Archibald Simpson,


(Concluded from page 302 ).


Gouldians and Long-tailed Grass fin che.s : The former have

been a real trial to me. I have had perhaps a dozen pairs, most

of which died at periods varying from one day to a fortnight

from the time of my obtaining them. Here, again, I have an

exception in the case of one hen which lived about a year and

was ultimately killed by a rat.


Long-tails have done better, and some pairs (?) I have

kept quite a respectable time, in one or two cases, eighteen

months to three years. The sexing of this Grassfinch is one of

the difficulties of the uon-scientific aviarist. I know the white

tip to be found on the wings of some specimens is not an indica¬

tion of the masculine gender, as I have undoubted hens with this

characteristic, and of this I am absolutely certain. Further, size

is no guarantee of sex as of the last pair I possessed, the cock

bird was a shade smaller than the lieu, the extended tail feathers

were shorter, but the black gorget was unquestionably larger in

this particular cock bird, and though it may need a fine eye to

discern a difference sometimes, I think the bib is the best index

of the sex, that is to say given a stock to choose from, those

with the biggest bibs would be certain to prove cocks.


Of Bicheno or Double Banded Finches I have only kept

two pairs, one hen living with me about five years. This bird

broke both legs on separate occasions, recovering rapidly under

careful treatment, the limb being set in improvised “spelks”

made from the soft pine wood of “ Puck” matches and carefully

bound with knitting wool. There was 110 deformity in either

limb after recover)", although in the first accident the fracture

was at a point not more than half an inch from the body. The

bird was of course kept for about a month in a cage, from which

all perches had been removed and the bottom covered with hay

to a good depth, food and water being conveniently to hand so

that she had really not to move her position to obtain either.


My Zebra Finches never reared any young, though nest

after nest was built, each having a complement of eggs varying



