Ill



seems mucli happier than it was with me. It is the only Amazon

that I have seen that wanted extra warmth, and I fancy the heat

of the Zoo parrot house, which ordinarily I consider too great,

just suits it. The authorities there were very glad to acquire it,

as it was the first they have had. They have had versicolor from

S. Lucia, and have one now which 7 as certainly ought to have,

as they boiiqueti, for the poor thing has evidently been a great

pet and misses the petting. Their possessing the two enables

the public to compare them.


I am now hoping that Sir Harry Thompson may be able

to get me a versicolor.



OWLS.


By E. G. B. Mkade-Waldo.


Ever since I kept birds, which is since I was a small child,

the Owl family have held the first place in my affections; both

as inmates of our aviaries and living in wild and semi-wild

conditions about our grounds and woods.


Owls stand confinement well, living for great numbers of

years in perfect health. Many species breed well; they maintain

themselves in perfect plumage, become very tame, shew them¬

selves well, and, beyond good habitations suited to their mode of

life, good and fresh food administered in proper quantities

according to the time of year, water for bathing, and of course

cleanliness, they do not require much attention. Almost all

species appear to be practically indifferent to cold. Aviaries

intended for Owls should be roomy and of two compartments,

an open and an inner, with solid roof, sides and back; but the

entrance into the back compartment may be wide so that birds

roosting in it are not out of sight. All Owls love a sun bath, and

the site chosen for their aviaries should, if possible, be one that

has the morning sun, for half the pleasure in keeping these

birds will be lost if you cannot see them enjoying themselves

in their own way. And no more curious sight can present itself

to the lover of birds than a Great Lapp or Ural Owl laying

spread out in the sun bath, its face turned full on the orb itself,

the pupils of its eyes vanished to the size of a pin’s head. I

have seen our own Tawny Owl bask in this manner in its wild

state.


All Owls are great bathers and should be supplied with

roomy baths, from which, of course, they also drink. This



