The Room Aviary. 127 



unless, indeed, they are so tame as to go on with 

 their squabbles, and make no difference for the 

 presence of a visitor. 



I think, when all are paired, or mostly so, they 

 generally keep themselves to themselves in a pretty 

 contented manner, but sometimes there seems, for 

 some unexplained cause, to be a general prejudice- 

 against some unhappy little couple, and their nest 

 gets pulled to pieces and they themselves are griev- 

 ously maltreated by many of the others joining in the- 

 attack. 



Iii such cases, a common breeding cage is useful, 

 with some slight contrivance to protect the nest, if 

 built, as it sometimes is, against the outer wires : but 

 a good deal of vigilance is needed, as I said, in 

 listening for the sounds of battle that peculiar sharp 

 hissing and in observing if many feathers arc- 

 strewed about, a wing or tail feather, especially,, 

 betraying that there has been a scuffle. 



9. It is as well also to remark that when birds are- 

 hungry they invariably take to fighting, for which 

 reason the seed boxes, standing upon the floor, or 

 fixed against the walls, should never become quite 

 empty. 



10. We must not forget the kitchen garden, having 

 at present provided only for the trees. It is aggra- 

 vating to grand gardeners, perhaps, to be requested 

 to send one up a small parcel of groundsel seed, 



