48 Practicai. Bird-Kkeping. 



given a suitable place and that a pair could be got to live together. 

 They should be introduced to each other in late autumn and kept 

 together during the winter, being turned out into their breeding 

 aviary early in spring. Few people, if any, have tried to breed 

 them, and captive Hawks are seldom in breeding condition. 



The Black Kite has laid and hatched with me on several 

 occasions, both in a large barn and in a comparatively small 

 aviary, and Vultures have been known to nest not infrequently. 



It is hardly necessary to add any special remarks on Kites 

 and Vultures, they are much hardier than Hawks and will live 

 peaceably together. Being by nature carrion-feeders they are 

 not nearly so particular as to their food, and it is not so important 

 to give them fur every week. On the other hand, they are much 

 more greedy and lazy than a Hawk, and care must be taken not 

 to overfeed them ; in other respects, if kept in the manner 

 described for Hawks they will thrive and in all probability breed. 



II. OWLS. 



Beyond the fact that the majority of Owls are raptorial 

 birds, they have no other claim to be considered in any article 

 dealing with Hawks. From their similarity of food, however, 

 they may be kept in confinement in a manner similar to the 

 diurnal birds of prey. They are not nearly so wild or so liable 

 to knock themselves about as Hawks, so that if necessary their 

 aviary may be wired at the top and sides, but we find that they 

 undoubtedly keep in better condition if their aviary be covered 

 in ; it is, however, unnecessary to have the front flap. They 

 must be provided with a closed-in box, having merely a large 

 hole by which they can enter, and the box should have the 

 bottom of one side hinged to facilitate cleaning out. Certain 

 species, such as the Eagle Owl, Short-eared Owl and several 

 others will not enter a box, and in these cases the front flap 

 should be used, but it may be permanently fixed down in order 

 to provide a dark retreat during the day. The feeding should be 

 precisely the same as for the Hawks, except that as they feed at 

 night it is advisable to feed them late in the afternoon and 

 remove the surplus food, if any, in the morning. 



