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her might ; her large gazelle-like eyes seeming to dance with

delight. I am not exaggerating about the eyes ; anyone who

has kept this species must have noticed their size, which quite

equals those of a Starling—a very much bigger bird.


In an aviary of decent size the Shama always remains on

or near the ground during the day ; often taking a darting flight

into the air, accompanied by a click of the voice and a sudden

spreading of the tail; at night it naturally roosts upon a perch.


Moths, butterflies, grasshoppers, worms, beetles, cock¬

roaches, spiders, flies, and bits of raw lean meat are amongst the

dainties that tickle a Shama’s palate.


The dealers in Calcutta tell me that most of the exported

Shatnas go to Germany ; some enterprising individuals bringing

mealworms all the way to India from the Fatherland, for use on

the voyage.



MISCELLANEOUS EXPERIENCES OF OUTDOOR

AVICULTURE.


By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S.


“Can much be done with only one aviary?” is a question

frequently asked. I answer most decidedly, yes. But in the

first place the aviculturist must decide as to the course he intends

to pursue. If breeding is to be his paramount aim, then he

must content himself with small numbers and variety; say six,

or at most, seven pairs of birds, in an aviary of say 20ft. long,

3ft. to 4ft. wide, and 6ft. to 8ft. high. But even thus the young

must be disposed of as tliey^ assume adult plumage—or a second

aviary of equal size, kept merely as a flight, erected for their

accommodation—otherwise they will upset their parents’ breed¬

ing arrangements, in fact almost nullify them.


O11 the other hand, if the aviculturist decides on number

and variety, then he can have in the same space 50 or 60 birds.

But while he will gather a lot of useful general information, his

breeding experiences will be few and far between, though under

such conditions I have reared numbers of Zebra and Ribbon

Finches, Java Sparrows, Cockatiels, and similar common stuff,

with interest and pleasure, if not profit ; but that is a minor

matter with the earnest aviculturist; he is athirst for knowledge

and counts not the cost of anything within his means. Now as

to variety, what may we keep together ? What I am about to

say, I am afraid many of our members will consider very



