and Gcopelia by drooping its wings, because if it did so its chief

beauty, the larger wing coverts, would be concealed, so to avoid

this, it raises its wings until the coverts almost join, making a

band of colour behind the head. Now my bird certainly does

not do this, but trails its wings on the ground as it bows, giving

a brilliant display of the colours. Individual birds differ very

much in their ways and I have found this to apply to the Doves,

even more than other birds.


My Ring-necked Parrakeets have eggs already, the first

being laid on March 9th. The cock bird spends a considerable

part of his time in the barrel with the hen. Rather a change for

him, because if he had gone inside a month ago, she would have

done her best to kill him there. It is wonderful how savage that

old hen Ring-neck is. This spring she burrowed into the next

aviary, making a hole like a rat, and set upon her last year’s

young bird, biting a large piece out of its cheek and cutting two

of its toes off. It lost a considerable quantity of blood but I

think it will pull through all right now.


During the very severe February frost I was afraid the

Corncrake would get his toes frost-bitten, as he persisted in

standing on the ice on the large water-dish for hours together,

and upon my breaking it he would have a bath with great enjoy¬

ment. His feathers used to freeze stiff afterwards, but this never

seemed to do him any harm.


It seems to me that the food supply has more to do with

the migration of this bird than the severity of the weather, as he

seems to be much happier in an outdoor aviary than indoors.


The Corncrake’s feathers are very greasy. I examined

one that had been shot and found the grease could be scraped up

like butter. I fancy this must protect it when running through

the long wet grass.


I have read that kitchens are very unsuitable rooms to

keep birds in, but my experience shows that such places are

quite the reverse. The one I am writing of is very dark and

faces North, but still the birds seem to do very well in it. My

Redstart, for instance, came into song in November, has become

finger-tame, and looks as if the place suited him admirably. Of

course this is only to winter certain birds, for I object strongly

to keeping birds in cages as a rule. I think they should be in

outdoor aviaries as far as possible.


It is very interesting to watch the birds bathing. The

Crake stands in the water and jerks up and down just like a



