on the Influence of German Aviculture.



105



his birds in the winter months. The only description in the ‘ Fancyer's

Delight ’ of a bird-room of the German type, in which the birds are

always flying loose and are never caged, is of a combined room and

“ outlet ” (outdoor flight) and is recommended for breeding Canaries,

hut is admittedly borrowed from a German design.


Even to-day there is nearly as much difficulty in heating

efficiently a bird-room in this country. I regret to say that a visit

to two of our members revealed the fact that, in this twentieth

century, they were using nothing more satisfactory than the common

and smoky paraffin lamp. I was on the point of suggesting to

them the vast superiority of the smokeless blue-flame stove of the

“ Beatrice ” type, but on reflection I felt sure that it would be wasted

effort.


But, though the idea of a comfortably heated room, in which

the aviculturist could sit at all seasons and in all weathers and watch

his birds flying round him, is an attractive one, I have not found it a

success in actual use. Although Bechstein claims that “ all birds are

less at ease in a cage than when at liberty in a room,” my experience

is the exact converse. During a period of nearly two years 1 tried

many varieties of English and foreign birds under these conditions,

and I found that one and all would spring into the air the moment

one entered the room and fly wildly round and round. Any sitting

birds would throw themselves off their nests, scattering the eggs on

the floor, and Larks would beat against the ceiling. In the very dry

atmosphere eggs did not hatch well, and young birds never seemed

to prosper. I recollect that I failed under these conditions with such

easy species as the Goldfinch and Tree-sparrow. There were other

objections. The walls became dirty. No chair could be left in the

room even for a few minutes without being soiled. Sand adhered to

one’s boots and, despite the vigorous use of a doormat, was carried

about the house. How the Germans could breed such shy species as

the Blue Grosbeak under these conditions has always been a mystery

to me. I give them full credit for the requisite skill and patience.

I have heard of some successful English flying-rooms. In one a

soft-bill fancier kept twenty-six (!) Nightingales and claimed that

there was “always one in song,” but never more than one, for, in

such a confined space, the master-singer would brook no rival.



