8S



Another winter came, and by that time my birds had increased in

number, and I had improved their room so that the tiny inoffensive ones

might fly free—this added to my difficulty in safely providing them with

candles—I had no gas at that time and considered lamps dangerous, my

bird room being some distance from the house.


I ventured to consult a gentleman—a member of our present Society

—whom I had previously found most kind and courteous in giving me

advice and answering mv questions, although I was, at that time, a

complete stranger to him. He thought artificial light unnecessary, and

laid stress on the fact that, during the time of rest, food was not required.

Gladly acting on this opinion, I left my little birds to nature, and have

found, so far, that really through the dark winter time I have lost fewer

than at other times. Indeed, I do not recall one death during the darkest

period, either last winter or that before. I have found the early spring

more trying. This is the fourth winter they have had no artificial light.


My little room is now warmed bv one of Mr. Abrahams’ stoves (gas),

and the temperature is seldom much over 50 deg. in winter. I think

myself fortunate when the thermometer keeps up to 45 deg. during the

night. When the weather is really winterly it goes down a good many

degrees, and was below 40 many of the cold nights last February. But my

Gouldiau Finch did not appear to suffer, neither did a hen Corden Bleu, nor

any of the tiny Waxbills.


I keep the Gouldians and a few other delicate birds in large cages,

and cover the tops and about nine inches of the fronts at night with baize;

this makes a warm shelter for the little things to sleep under, and leaves

the rest of the cage to benefit from the first rays of light in the morning.


Some of the little mites which fly free like to creep under the baize

at the top of a Crystal Palace Aviary; some perch on the nursery guard

which protects the stove, and others go into the rush nests provided for

them.


All religiously go to bed with the sun. At this time (Dec. 29th) I

pay them their good-night visit punctually at 10 minutes before 4 o’clock,

and find all the free members of my feathered family assembled at that

time on the feeding shelf, busily engaged in eating a good supper.


If I am many minutes making the arrangements for the night, I

have the pleasure of seeing them all retiring to bed, and find each

individual little bird is most jealous over his own sleeping place and very

impatient if I get in his way. I do not think any of them would be at

all pleased if I disturbed them with lamps or candles. This letter sounds

egotistical from a writer who can lay no claim to scientific knowledge—

much as she respects that knowledge in others—but there may be members

of our Society, who have had less experience than myself, to whom it may

be a comfort to know that it is quite possible to keep their little pets

indoors during the winter, without providing light for them at night.


At the time of writing, I have a little Orange-cheeked Waxbill in my

room which has been in my possession 8 years and 4 months.


E- E. West.



