586 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



FRONT VIEW OF AVIARY. 



My gardener looks after the aviary and I 

 have no regular keeper. My principal losses 

 have been due to placing the wrong kinds of 

 birds together, resulting in their killing each 

 other, particularly at breeding time ; and to over- 

 eating and consequent fatty degeneration ; while 

 a few are occasionally lost from injuries caused 

 by striking their heads when frightened, partic- 

 ularly at night. On the whole, however, the 

 losses are no greater than with chickens or any 

 other domestic fowls. 



Now, as regards the inmates, in tlie first flight 

 there are, at present, three Cockateels (these 

 nest readily in confinement), a pair of Crimson- 

 winged and a female Red-rump Parrakeet, be- 

 sides three Green Love-birds. In the second: 

 Dominican Cardinals, Java Sparrows and a few 

 Canaries. In the third: a pair of Leadbeatcr 

 Cockatoos. In the fourth: Zebra Finches. 

 ISIanikins, Weaver birds and a lot of other small 

 Finches. The Zebra Finches have bred so 

 abundantly that they out- 

 number the others three to 

 one. 



In the fifth: Budgerigers, 

 or Australian Grass Parra- 

 keets, of which I have bred 

 a large number. For breed- 

 ing places, I first used co- 

 coanut husks, imported from 

 E. W. Harper, Wolver- 

 hampton, England, and lat- 

 terly have been using tlie 

 Xo. B logs made by Mr. 

 Herman Scheid, Buren i.. 

 Westfalen, Germany, which 

 can be imported for about 

 50c. apiece. 



In the sixth flight there 

 are a pair of Blue Mountain 



Lories, two Green Cardinals, 

 an Indian Shama, and a 

 lot of other small birds. The 

 Blue Mountain Lories are 

 spiteful with other parrots 

 but they do not seem to pay 

 much attention to the small- 

 er birds. 



In the seventh: A pair of 

 Rosellas and a male Ring- 

 neck Parrakeet. I had two 

 pairs of Rosellas, but this 

 spring one of the cocks 

 killed the other pair, and 

 although the surviving hen 

 laid eggs she did not hatch 

 them. 



In the eighth is a pair of 

 ^Minors, a Malabar Minor, a 

 Green Barbet, a pair of Starlings, a Rose-Col- 

 ored Paster, another Shama, a Mexican Solitaire 

 (a very fine singer by the way) and an Indian 

 Drongo. This last is supposed to be a very 

 delicate bird, but he has now been in good health' 

 for over a year. 



In the ninth : A Red-vented Parrot and a male 

 New Guinea Green Electus. The New Guinea 

 Electus is a stupid bird, but I purchased him 

 with the intention of procuring a mate which 

 up to the present I have been unable to do. 



In the tenth: A pair of Pennants and a fe- 

 male Slaty-headed Parrakeet. I lost the male 

 through what was apparently sun-stroke. 



In conclusion let nie say again that any one 

 who is fond of birds will find the keeping of a 

 private aviary such as I have described, a 

 fascinating and inexpensive hobby, and that I 

 shall be pleased to give any further advice I can 

 on this subject to any one desiring it. 



SIUE VIEW UF AVIAHV. 



