94 Practical Rikd-Kkkping. 



tion of their domestic -aflfairs if done judiciously and by the 

 right person. Strangers should, of course, never be allowed in 

 the aviaries during the breeding season, and the fewer people 

 that are taken to see the birds at that time, even outside the 

 aviaries, the better. Birds, however, soon get to know their 

 keepers provided they are usually dressed in much the same 

 manner and take but little notice of them. Any inspection of 

 the nests, etc. should be done as far as possible from the outside, 

 and when nests are actually visited it should always be in broad 

 daylight and if possible when the parents are off feeding. Close 

 observation will soon give a hint as to when the birds are laying, 

 and one or two visits will be sufficient to establish the exact date 

 of the laying of the first few eggs, they may then be left entirely 

 alone till they are nearly due to hatch, the exact date of which 

 can then be usually determined by further close observation and 

 one or two more visits and a note of the down plumage may be 

 made at the same time. During the first week or so, after the 

 young are hatched, they may generally be visited with impunity, 

 and notes made on the early growth of the feathers, and, at the 

 same time, one can see that they are being well and suitably fed ; 

 during the latter stages of feathering they should be left alone 

 as otherwise thej' are certain to leave the nest too soon. 



Such, then, are a few hints, which if followed should cer- 

 tainly increase the chances of success. The true bird-lover who 

 knows and studies his charges will, of course, realise that these 

 broad notes must be modified and adapted to suit the individual 

 idiosyncrasies of every bird, for the lower animals have a great 

 amount of individuality which is too often ignored by their 

 keepers. Some of my readers ma}' think the suggestions put 

 forward trivial in manj'^ cases and involving a good deal of 

 trouble ; they have all, however, been founded on sttidy, thought 

 and experience, and what can be obtained without trotible is 

 usually not worth obtaining. Of course, we cannot guarantee 

 success, but those who follow these instructions will at all events 

 deserve it, and even if they fail they will, if they be true bird- 

 lovers, be practically recompensed by the interest awakened and 

 knowledge gained from a closer stud}' of their pets. 



