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by, remarked “ Ah! it’s their way, it’s only the young one

killing off the old one.” I replied that it was perhaps a good

thing for some of us that humans had learnt better manners,

and went my way.


But this peculiarity of bird-nature makes not the least of

the difficulties that beset the aviculturist, and while putting out

of account all the interesting questions of growth of instindt,

inherited tendencies, ethics of living and so on, leaves for

him the great problem how it is practicable, under such conditions,

to increase his stock.



AVICULTURAL SMALL-TALK.



Mrs. Charles Mallet, in the Animals' Friend , tells how a lady attracted

fourteen different species of birds into her London garden, surrounded on

all sides by houses. “Chaffinches, yellow-hammers, house-martins, and

some which are but seldom seen within the precincts of the great city,

came to look upon the house and garden as a safe and happy refuge. The

murmuring music of the wood-pigeon, of which six frequented the garden,

sounded throughout the quiet summer afternoon, and many a glad song

of thankfulness was heard from some little contented thrush or blackbird,

well satisfied with the feast of good things provided.” We believe that the

capabilities of small town gardens, from a “ birdy ” point of view, are not

sufficiently appreciated. If people would take the trouble to feed the birds

regularly (with food which they like , not mere bread crumbs) and would

pi'ovide shelter and nesting-places, they would be amply repaid by the

presence of many species which they would never have expected to see

within the boundaries of a town.



A fine male Gang-gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon galeatum) has just

appeared in the London market. It is said that one has not been seen in

England for fifteen years, and that this is the only one in Europe.



There are some forms of cruelty which are constantly being denounced

and are apparently universally condemned, and yet they continue to be

practised just as if no protest had ever been made against them. One

abomination is the wearing of birds’ plumes and skins in ladies’ hats.

Another is the senseless destruction of specimens of rare British species as

soon as the} r appear amongst us. The members of the Avicultural Society

are too well instructed to require to have the folly and wickedness of either

practice pointed out to them. We are heartily sick of the very mention

of them. But they appear to go on, just the same as ever — and so long as

this is so “men of goodwill” must go on protesting against them. Will

the members do all they can, both by precept and example, to discourage

both practices ?



