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place. The trap should be set firmly, so that it may not fall

down except at your desire, and may be left for days until the

birds regularly resort to it for their ordinary food. When you

mean business, sprinkle fresh food in the trap or traps (I usually

have at least two), and retire. When you see a goodly number

of the birds you want zvell under the uplifted “ sieve ” or sieves

(for at first great numbers will go in), pull the string or strings

sharply and the birds are entrapped. Lay a piece of dark baize

or cloth over each trap, to stop the prisoners from fluttering

about, and then carry each trap bodily away. I may finish

up by adding that, when you want to catch a bird in a

cage with your hand, the plan of darkening the cage by placing

something over it is very helpful. The bird in the dark will

crouch down in a corner, and you can lay your hand on it and

catch it without a flutter.



AVICULTURAL NOTES.


By Miss Hodgson.


I have had an Orange Bishop ( P . franciscanus) in my

possession for 12 years, and this winter he has remained in full

colour, though perhaps the orange is less vivid than it was in the

summer. Hitherto he has always assumed the coloured plumage

in July and lost it in November as the days became dark and

foggy. We have not enjoyed much sunshine during the past

winter, and early spring and November and December were

exceptionally foggy here in Kent, so it is curious the bird should

have preserved his brilliancy. My Napoleon Bishop (P.

melanogaster), which I have had for about the same number of

years, is in his usual brown winter dress. The birds are always

fed in the same way and no change has been made in their mode

of living. I believe some authorities say that the American

Nonpareil (Fringilla ciris ), goes “out of colour” in the winter.

Mine moulted every feather in September, and has emerged from

the moult in the most vivid and lovely plumage. I have not

been so fortunate with Gouldians as Mr. Wiener and find them

the most delicate birds I have ever kept. In fact, I am now

trying to harden my heart against the temptation of their beauty

and to abjure the species. They go on well during winter

spring and autumn, but the excessive heat of the last two

summers has invariably proved fatal, and each year I have lost

my five or six lovely specimens in as many days. They mope

for a day or two and then conies the end for no apparent cause.

I have fed them most carefully with plenty of millet in the ear



