88 Practicai^ Bird-kkeping. 



XIV. 



HOW TO BREED BIRDS. 



By J. Lewis Bonhote. 



At this time of the year the thoughts of all aviculturists are 

 concentrated on "spring-cleaning" and the re-arrangenient of 

 their stock into their summer quarters, whether for l^reeding or 

 otherwise. On looking through the back numbers of our Maga- 

 zine one is struck by the fact that, amongst all our members, a 

 comparatively very small proportion can in any way be termed 

 successful breeders ; of course the difficulties to he contended 

 with are great, the majority of the birds kept are inhabitants of 

 foreign and more genial climes, then natural food, and especially 

 that with which the young should be nourished is unattainable 

 in this country, and from lack of aviary room they cannot be 

 given the quiet and freedom from molestation necessary to the 

 successful rearing of their young. In spite of all these draw- 

 backs, however, the list of successful breeders might be much 

 greater than it really is, and I propose to give a few hints which 

 may, I hope, assist in producing a greater measirre of success. 

 Two factors are indispensable to successful breeding (i) Condition, 

 (ii) Stimuli, which, in other words, implies environment and 

 attention to minute details. 



Firstly, Condition. This is, of course, a sitie qua non, and 

 unless it be in suitable ' condition ' no bird can breed or should 

 even be mated up for breeding. A secondary point to be borne 

 in mind about 'condition' is the time of year at which a bird must 

 be brought into breeding trim. In this respect niairy birds in 

 confinement are late — not till June or July do they respond to 



