on some experiences with British softhills.



225



turn them into the large flight. My birds then live as a rule. But

simply to turn them straight out is about as useful as putting them

in a small room with a hungry cat and vei’y nearly as rapid.


Wagtails are fairly easy to keep, and I need hardly say most

fascinating. In Sussex they call them “ dish-washers,”* I cannot say

why. I am rather sceptical about their murderous tendencies. I

have kept and seen them kept with all sorts and conditions but

never came across a murderer, I hope I shan’t. I am going to

risk another pair when opportunity occurs.


Blue tits are the easiest of all to keep once they settle down,

but more die at first than some aviculturists, in other respects quite

trustworthy, would lead you to believe. As to their being murderous

I simply don’t believe it. I have had at least a dozen or more and

never detected the smallest tendency even when other of the inmates

have looked and been seedy.


Whinchats, I must say, I enjoy far more on the downs in

Cornwall and in “ the Island ” than in an aviary. Still I did keep

some for a few months, but I never succeeded in keeping them

through the winter. Those hairy gapes bespeak trouble and you will

be a good aviculturist if you can bring your whinchats through the

moult. Live food is of course the trouble and about Christmas meal¬

worms were impossible to get for love or for money. Whinchats are

full of character and I mourned the loss of them. I shall try again.


While writing of British softbills one might mention blue-

throated warblers with their almost royal blue throats and dainty

carriage. They are fearfully pugnacious inter se and one has to keep

them separate. Mine all succumbed quite quickly except one and

he died of bad feet eventually. This foot trouble is rather a bane

with bird-keepers. I fancy it is usually contracted when the birds

are first caught. I believe it is highly contagious and one should

avoid birds with swollen feet. Improper diet aggravates it. Dirt

seems to be the chief cause of it.


I must close a somewhat long drawn out article with a firmly

expressed wish that dealers would not sell recently taken birds as

“ acclimatised,” “ well on food,” “ thoroughly meated off,” &c., &c.



* In Italy “ la lavandaia,” meaning the washerwoman, since the women wash

linen on the shores of lakes.—ED.



