THE



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BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.



NO. 3.



JANUARY, 1895.



THE ACCLIMATIZATION OF FOREIGN BIRDS.


By Arthur G. Butler, Ph.D., F.L.S., &c.


Acclimatization, as I understand it, signifies the acquirement by the

inhabitant of one climate, of the power to resist the adverse conditions of

another. This should be most easy to such species as have originated in

a climate in which there are considerable variations of temperature or

moisture; whether seasonal, or representing a difference between that of

the day and night.


So far as I can see, there is no reason whatever why birds should not

be as easily acclimatized as other animals, or plants ; indeed, we know that

British birds, when transported to Australia, readily adapt themselves to

the altered conditions to which they are subjected : moreover, as regards

the larger birds, a visit to our Zoological Gardens clearly demonstrates that

the transfer from a warmer climate does not seriously affect them.


Are we then to infer that mere size gives a bird the power to resist

cold? Such seems to be the prevalent opinion; but considering that a

more rapid respiration largely compensates for decrease of bulk, this idea

seems no more logical than that which I have often heard expressed, to the

effect that Waxbills seem too small to be permitted to laj^ eggs ! Indeed,

if it were true, the Wren would be less hardy than the Blackbird, or the

Blue-tit than the Ox-eye.


Undoubtedly to some birds the process of acclimatization is a trying

one ; therefore, many Aviculturists, rather than lose specimens in the

effort to produce a vigorous stock, prefer to provide a tropical temperature

throughout the year for the inhabitants of their Bird-rooms ; thus, owing to

the difficulty of combining heat with perfect ventilation apart from draught,

these men often lose as many of their pampered children as those who

follow the opposite system.


There can be little doubt that the prevalent opinion as to the diffi¬

culty of acclimatizing small foreign birds is based upon a false foundation.

In the first place, small Finches are usually imported in crowds; many of

them arrive in this country in an extremely emaciated and unhealthy con¬

dition. The association of two or three hundred little birds in a close cage,

where they sit packed together almost like herrings in a barrel, throughout

a long and perhaps rough sea journey, constantly surrounded by foul

exhalations, with insufficient and unclean food and water, resulting in an

incessant struggle for the barest necessaries of life, naturally produces

either disease or extreme weakness. Birds imported under these unfavour¬

able conditions, if suddenly turned loose into a cold aviary, must necessarily

suffer severely : being three parts dead already, it is no great marvel if the

abrupt transfer from the close confinement in a stuffy cage (perhaps kept

for weeks in a cook's cabin or an engine-room) to a chilly though airy home,

rapidly develops the disease which has already marked down its victims,

thereby accelerating their death. Thus the mistaken conclusion is arrived

at, that if kept permanently in a heated room, the sufferers would have



