How TO Bkkhd Birds. 91 



the males. One or two moderate-sized cages should previousl)^ 

 have been placed in the aviar}', and, when the hens have got 

 accustomed to these cages, the males should be put in, each one 

 in a separate cage. All the males that are intended to breed in 

 the aviary should be paired at the same time, and it will conduce 

 to future peace if these males have already been living together. 

 The best time to cage up the males is after dark or just before 

 dusk. Owing to the birds taking fright and knocking themselves 

 about it is often impossible to move them after dark, and it 

 should then be done just before they go to roost ; the main idea, 

 however, is that they should remain quiet when first moved and 

 wake up in their new quarters, by this means they will be far less 

 disturbed by their change and no violent fighting is likely to take 

 place. On the evening of the second or third day the doors 

 should be opened and the birds allowed to find their way into 

 the aviary in the morning. 



If these instructions have been followed out there is not 

 likely to be any serious trouble, but the aviary should be watched 

 for the next day or two. The next step will be to remove the 

 surplus hens, and this can be done as soon as it is seen which 

 pairs have mated. This may take place almost immediately, or 

 not for some days, but if the birds are really in condition it will 

 not be long, and once that has been successfully accomplished 

 the first step is completed. 



Our attention must now be concentrated on the second 

 great factor, that of stivndi, for a bird in breeding condition and 

 mated will not necessarily breed, or at the most will only drop 

 her eggs if the surroundings are not to her liking, and, in the 

 case of some species, they will not even mate until they see the 

 materials and locality for their future home at hand. 



The first important point to consider under the head of 

 ' stimuli' is the other inhabitants of the aviary. The ideal con- 

 ditions is of course to give each pair an aviary to themselves, 

 but when space does not admit of this arrangement a golden rule 

 to remember is to place in the same aviary species which are 

 least nearly related. During the nesting season — except in the 

 case of those species which breed in colonies — a bird is always 

 most pugnacious towards its own kind, or those of other nearly 

 related species. 



