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at first; but if it be persevered in and arranged judiciously they

will come out in troops during the very long nights. The

unanimity with which the majority give up the night feeding as

the nights shorten is worthy of notice, for it seems to shew that

it is not greed that prompts them to leave their snug quarters but

an intuitive impulse of stern necessity.


In the birdroom, in which my birds fly loose, I have found

it best to hang up two or three dimly burning hurricane lamps

during the winter nights. A good class of lamp, costing three

shillings and sixpence in London, is perfectly safe if properly

attended to, and will last through the longest night and help the

birds to an early breakfast in the morning.


STOVES.—Some of our members are fortunate in being

able to have properly constructed aviaries, heated with hot

water pipes ; but there are many who, like myself, have to make

other arrangements for warming the rooms in which their birds

are kept during the winter. A coal fire is unsatisfactory, in

many cases impracticable ; and for man}'' years past I have been

trying gas and paraffin stoves of various kinds. The gas has

long since been rejected; and, of the oil stoves which I

happen to have tried, all have been condemned but Rippengille’s.

These differ much, and have their faults, but they can be depended

on. They need never go wrong ; it is entirely one’s own fault if

they do. In my dining room, however, they have not been so

successful as in the birdroom. In the former, during the cold

season, I regularly keep some of the more delicate or more

highly valued of my pets ; but, owing to the large bay window

and its proximity to the cold draughty entrance hall, this room

is very cold ; and the ordinary stove has failed to keep up the

temperature sufficiently during severe weather. Last autumn,

I purchased one of Rippengille’s hot air radiating tubular

stoves. It is 36m. long x 3oin. high x yin. broad, is not unsightly,

and can be moved about at will, but should not be placed on the

unprotected carpet. Mine has been standing in the window

recess, where it cuts off the draught, and has proved moderately

satisfactory. With the door open some fifteen hours out of the

twenty-four, during the severest weather this winter, the

thermometer, on the wall just opposite the door and some

distance from the stove, has not gone below 53 deg. Fahr., which

is fairly good (a). As a rule, of course, the temperature has been


(a). This stove was not so satisfactory during the high north-east winds of March,

the temperature of the room often falling to 50 deg. After a winter’s trial, I have come to

the conclusion that it requires more care and attention, and is less reliable, than many of

those of the ordinary type.—R.P.



