Breeding in Avihries. 69 



with food. I have been confidently assured by long 

 experienced bird-keepers, that even where number 

 is the great object, as in their own case (breeding 

 young birds for sale), the trying for too many often 

 ends in the loss of all. A general skirmish terminates 

 hi torn nests, or, even supposing that peace is main- 

 tained, a general weakness ensues amongst all the 

 birds, the- old ones being over- worked, and the 

 young ones under-fed. Cheerfulness, too, is an im- 

 portant thing iii a birdcage, and a poor little hen 

 toiling on all alone is by no means a lively sight. 



For peace, then, for happiness, and even for 

 numbers to be reared, I strongly advise my readers 

 to match their birds pretty fairly, withdrawing any 

 member who is decidedly black-balled, and giving 

 opportunity before entering the aviary of forming a 

 slight acquaintance. 



4. After February or March it is rather a risk to 

 introduce new inmates into an aviary already arranged 

 for breeding. If one of a pair should die, it is best 

 to remove the mate till it has formed another match ; 

 when the pair may be put in again, though with some 

 risk of the new bird not agreeing with those which 

 were there before. 



An entirely new pair can be put in with more 

 safety, but we always need to have a few single cages 

 for such birds as are separated from the others for 

 any cause whatever. 



