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of the footpath, and on a second stage, gaining a little more sun, and on

which I grow some very good Begonias, are placed about the same number

of smaller cages, eighteen inches by two feet, by two feet, these contain

pairs of Canaries for breeding. Most of these are shaded on the top by Ivy

geraniums, making the places nice and snug. I may add that these latter

are of more recent make, and breeding Canaries in this position is more an

experiment than anything else. M y greatest fear is that it may prove too

warm in the summer, but these are all moveable, and can be "placed in a

cooler position if necessary. The foreign birds stood the heat (not extreme)

well last summer, and their condition, health, and plumage was excellent.

I have a bov, who, amongst his other duties, looks after the cleaning,

watering, and feeding, and I find he does his work fairly well, though a

walk round, and a little supervision is a most pleasing and necessary

recreation.


Besides these, I have a large round wire aviary in the dining-room, in

the recess of a French window, leading on to the lawn, this measures seven

feet round, and stands eight feet high, and contains a mixture of foreign birds

and canaries; they get plenty of light, and do very well indeed. What I am

wanting, and what I find very difficult to meet with, are Turquoisines. If

any of our Members wish to part with these, I should feel obliged if they

would communicate with me.



MIGRATIONS OF BRITISH BIRDS MORE OR LESS SUITABLE

FOR CAGE-CULTURE.


By Arthur G. Butler, Ph.D., F.L.S., Ftc.


In Great Britain we have comparatively few resident cage-birds ; more¬

over, even of some of these, a more or less large proportion of the indivi¬

duals bred here, retreat to sunnier lands at the approach of winter. In

October and November not a few even of such hardy birds as the Missel

and Song-Thrushes migrate to Southern Furope and Northern Africa; in

some winters the Blackbird also becomes partly migratory; and the Robin,

most typical of all winter birds, sends recruits to swell the ranks of depart¬

ing songsters.


Most of our Goldfinches betake themselves to Egypt in October, return¬

ing home in April; so also the Crossbill, Bullfinch, Linnet, Twite, and

perhaps the Hawfinch, House and Tree-Sparrows, are partial migrants.

Mail} 7 Grey, Pied, and probably White Wagtails travel southwards in

September or October, to return in the following March ; lastly, numerous

Titlarks and Woodlarks make their way to Southern Europe, Asia Minor,

Palestine and North Africa.


Whether only the more delicate individuals thus avoid the severity of

our cold season, or those which have the keenest appreciation of comfort,

we cannot decide; but, whatever the reason, it should give us satisfaction

to be assured, when frosts are long protracted, that all our pretty ones are

not being slaughtered.


But, whereas the numbers of many resident birds are thus temporarily

reduced, on the other hand those of some resident species are very largely

increased by autumn or winter immigrants from more northerly regions:

large flocks of Goldcrests with here and there a Firecrest, crowds of Ox-eyes,

Blue-Tits, Starlings, Greenfinches Siskins, Bramblings, Chaffinches, Corn,

and Yellow Buntings, Skylarks, and a few Shore-larks come to claim our

hospitality.


Why do all these birds remain on our bleak islands ? They are travelling

southwards from colder lands, yet stop short before they reach a haven of

comfort and plenty; so weary of wandering that they must fain content

themselves with the meagre "fare which a British winter affords them : a

miserable provision it must often prove to the unhappy vagrants ! Doubt¬

less, in very severe winters, many are driven by sheer starvation to journey



