How TO Breed Birds. 89 



the influences (often the reverse of genial) of our Spring, and by 

 July the year has turned, the moult commences and the oppor*- 

 tunity of nesting for that j^ear is lost. Of course we know that 

 many broods are successfully reared in the latter part of the 

 summer, but we are endeavouring to show that the measure of 

 success might have been much greater had the stock come into 

 * condition ' sooner. Those species that never breed owing to this 

 cause largely outnumber those that do. Our first efforts, there- 

 fore, should be to get our stock into breeding condition as soon 

 as possible, let us say by the end of April, and for this ptrrpose at 

 least two or three months preparation is necessary. 



First of all, the sexes should be kept apart, where they can 

 neither see nor hear each other. They should be kept in an 

 aviary with inside and outside flight, in which they should be 

 allowed to fly on fine and warm days ; the inner aviary should, 

 however, always be warm (not hot) especially at nights. They 

 should not be allowed in the outer flight till towards mid-day, 

 and shut up again before sunset. Actual cold, provided the 

 weather be fine, will do them no harm for their few hours flight, 

 but on raw days, especially if accompanied by rain and wind, 

 they should only be allowed out for a very short time or not at 

 all. The next important consideration is food : this should be 

 abundant and nourishing, but of not too fatty a nature, as a fat bird 

 will never breed ; fresh green food, bath, grit, and other hygienic 

 adjuncts should be carefully attended to. and the result of such a 

 treatment, if conscientiously followed, will not fail to bring the 

 birds into ' condition.' It is of course much easier to write about 

 these matters than to carry them out successfully, the main 

 stumbling block being the question of food, and as this article is 

 not on any particular species it is impracticable to give any special 

 menu. 



The main facts to be aimed at, however, are fresh air, 

 exercise, moderate warmth, good, but not fattening, food. I need 

 hardly state here the signs of a bird being in good condition. 

 Glossiness of plumage, brightness of eye, alertness, quarrelsome- 

 ness, restlessness, song, or frequent repetition of a call note, full 

 development of any ornamental plumage, etc. ; these are signs 

 of ' condition,' and until a bird shows them no attempt should be 

 made to bring the sexes together. 



