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matter how severe the weather; I never make use of blinds or

shutters in any form whatever ; and though I am aware a few of

our members will possibly exclaim in horror at my cruelty as

they read this, I certainly am not conscious of its existence ; and

I will never believe that birds which sing, bathe, and are blithe

and gay all the day long can be either miserable or suffering.


The Waxbills of which I am writing are, briefly :



Indian Avadavat

Green Avadavat

Grey Waxbill

St. Helena Waxbill

Zebra Waxbill

Orange-cheeked Waxbill



(i Sporceginthus amandava').


(.Stictospiza formosa ).


(Estrelda cinereal).


(Estrelda astrildd).

(Sporceginthus subflavus).


(Sporceginthus melpodus).


They have for companions a fairly representative series of the

genus Afunia, a sprinkling of Grassfinches, a few of the Emberiza ,

and a pair of Cockatiels.


I venture to say that, if members were to compare notes, it

would be found that those keeping their birds in out door aviaries

suffer by far the smallest number of losses ; again, the indoor

aviaries are by no means free from epidemics, as some avicul-

turalists know to their cost.



I will now quote an instance of one day last winter, when

it was necessary to break the ice in the bath three times during the

day ; Sporceginthus amandava , A. subflavus and A. melpodus , so

soon as the ice was broken (i.e. three times), went in, had their

tub, then away into the branches to preen their feathers ; between

times they were on the wing continuously, trilling their sweet and

merry little lay, as happy—well as a bird could be.


They have the usual seeds, soft food, and generally

manage to secure one meal worm daily from th o. Emberiza ; when

obtainable they also get grass in flower; they must have sand

and also cuttle-fish bone.



Simple as it seems this is about all that is required.

Under such conditions the birds will thrive and charm the

aviarist by their happy and contented demeanour and quaint

entertaining birdy ways.


Wholly insectivorous and frugivorous birds can only in

most instances be kept indoors, though I believe our fellow

member, the Rev. C. D. Farrar, has succeeded in keeping and

breeding several of these entirely out of doors.


My locality is Shepherd’s Bush, Loudon ; in spite of the

fogs we have to endure I have never supplied artificial light ;



