Mr. Archibald Simpson.



328



from four to ten, and I found on one occasion no fewer than four

nests erected on the top of each other. I got the impression that

my food supply was too stimulating, so cut off soft food and ants’

cocoons, but this did not make much, if any, difference, they

continued nesting operations to the usual stage and commenced

again de ?iovo.


On entering one of my birdrooms one morning I was horri¬

fied to find that the wire-netting guard covering the open window

had fallen down and most of the birds had escaped, indeed all

those I valued most had gone without exception, including two

Nonpariel Buntings, one Indigo Bunting, two Gouldians, four

Long-tail Grassfinches, two Paradise Wydalis in full colour, one

cock Rosella and a number of commoner birds. My feelings may

be better imagined than described, and a sympathetic friend, to

whom I related my trouble and who had never quite understood

my penchant for live stock, but who had 011 many oocasions

consented to listen to my recital of the charms of bird-keeping,

laconically observed, “Well, old chap, this will surely put the lid

on,’’ from which I gathered he anticipated my interest in avicul¬

ture would forthwith cease. He was mistaken. I may say that

I never recovered a single bird, but I had accounts brought to

me of strange birds being seen in different parts of the City,

which I recognised from the description as formerly my property.


Shortly afterwards I removed into the country, and my

mind was at once centred upon the construction of outdoor

aviaries. I had considerable difficulty in selecting a suitable

site owing to the number of large Beech and Sycamore trees

around the house, but eventually I decided to erect one at the

end of the house on the site of a small shrubbery and into which

I could obtain a view from a window which opened out on that

side from a room most frequently occupied. Although it would

face east, I rightly argued that it would get ample protection

from the winds from that direction, and was also fairly well

sheltered from the north. The accompanying ground plan will

explain the position of this aviary as constructed :—“A” is a

small stone-built outhouse, forming part of the permanent struc¬

ture and has a flagged roof, the walls are quite i8in. thick. I

had several of the roof flags removed and a sheet of glass 3oiu.



