How TO Breed Birds. 93 



in thickets, several small thickets suspended if possible from the 

 roof will be found more acceptable than one large one. In any 

 case, far more nesting-sites should be provided than the number 

 of pairs, and, further, the birds should be carefully viratched so 

 that if they appear to have decided on a spot unsuitable or un- 

 provided with the necessary accommodation a nesting- site may 

 then be fixed up in that spot. With those species that build open 

 nests in bushes, several flat platforms of natural twigs may be 

 fastened here and there, which may be used as a foundation. 

 Nesting material of all kinds should be abundantly supplied, as 

 well as plenty of that most artificial of substances cotton wool, 

 for many species are very fond of this as it forms such excellent 

 binding material and is at the same time soft and warm. 



I cannot, in this very general article, enter on the question 

 of food. The staple diet should of course be that which they 

 have been having in order to bring them into ' condition,' but 

 the nesting of backward or shy breeders may sometimes be 

 brought about by giving them, in addition to this, the extra food 

 which they will eventually require to rear the young ; this need 

 not of course be continued after they have commenced incuba- 

 tion, but in some cases it does undoubtedly induce them to make 

 a start. 



This, then, completes the rough summary of essentials 

 mostly consisting of small details which, undoubtedly, go a long 

 way towards bringing about success. 



There is. however, one more point which may be men- 

 tioned, and that is the conduct of the aviculturist himself towards 

 his charges. In breeding rare species, our object as aviculturists 

 should be to add something to the general knowledge of the 

 inner life history and habits of our pets. Many, and perhaps most, 

 bird-keepers are so anxious to rear the young that they make 

 few or no notes about them, and are content if at the end of the 

 season they have doubled or trebled the number of any particular 

 species, a result which might often be more easily obtained at 

 less expense and trouble by a letter to some bird-deaier. Yet 

 opportunities of studying duration of incubation, down plumage, 

 methods of feeding have been allowed to slip by unnoticed. 

 Personally, I have found that birds will not resent an inspec- 



