37



With the exception of a few birds chiefly from the

'Caucasus, exhibited in the Russian building by the Trocadero

Palace, these seem to me to be the only items of special interest

in the Exhibition to those who are fond of studying Natural

History.


I have been continually surprised to see the numbers of

people who take an interest in the bird exhibits, when there are

so many marvels to occupy their attention in other directions,

and people whom one would hardly suppose would glance at

such things : )' , et if there is a case of birds in a room, I have

often found it difficult to get near it.


I wonder if any other visitor to the Exhibition has

remarked the number of Blackbirds to be seen about the grounds

in spite of all the noise, bustle, and the hundreds of thousands

of visitors which daily crowd the grounds. I have sometimes

counted eight or nine in the course of an hour, mostly around

the Trocadero, but also in the trees close up to the Palace of

Electricity.



HOW TO KEEP SMALL FOREIGN BIRDS OUT

OF DOORS IN WINTER.


By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S.


In writing this paper I am not questioning Mr. Wiener’s

methods in the least. For the indoor aviary they cannot be gain¬

said ; but it is very probable there are many, like myself, who are

compelled to keep their birds out of doors all the year round ;

and if say Waxbills, etc., could be kept only under the conditions

stated, it would be a real deprivation to many, because of their

lack of indoor accommodation. For myself there are few birds I

would keep in the average box cage, even though they appear

fairly contented and keep in good condition ; for the data

gathered together under such conditions can be of but little

value.


In my garden aviary, among a mixed collection, there are

usually about twenty Waxbills, my losses among them in four

years having been about four ; and these have taken place during

the very hot weather and before the commencement of the

autumnal moult. My aviary is simply a lean-to shed, 14ft. by

6ft. by 8ft., boarded on three sides, covered with Mn. mesh wire¬

netting in front, and has an open flight at one end. It faces almost

full south ; from N. and E. winds it is wholly sheltered, and

partially from the W. also. This is all the shelter they get, no



