THE REPRODUCTION OF BIRDS.



Doubtless, every fancier of the less common cage-birds has repeated

the phrase: “These are very beautiful birds, but they do not breed in

captivity;” which is, after all, merely an ornithological falsehood. The

adt of reproduction is a condition natural to all living beings ; a condition

always possible where animals are kept in such a condition of health as

will allow free exercise of the physical organs.


When a bird does not nest in captivity, it is not a di refit consequence

of loss of freedom; but the effect of a morbid condition, resulting from the

loss of something which he enjoyed when free. The bird is suffering: the

cause of the trouble must be discovered and removed.


Here is often a difficulty. To discover the disease, to find palliatives,

and to administer them, is only possible to amateurs who really know

animals, their temperaments, their constitutions, and their habits. Here

is a field for profound study, necessitating long research and patient

observation ; and not every fancier can or will take so much trouble, when

it is so easy to shake the head sententiously, and say, “ These animals do

not breed in confinement.”


Not only is this sterility the result of disease, but it is the cause also

of serious organic derangements. Hence the short life to which wild

animals, reputed to be unproductive, attain in captivity.


The first essential in reproducing rare birds, is to make up for the

loss of liberty as far as possible, by affording space, quiet and isolation.

Next, the climate to which the bird is accustomed must be reproduced.

Amongst the shrubs in his aviary, should be planted those with which he is

familiar. Food is, perhaps, the least important point; but, as it is easy to

notice this, the breeder need not omit to satsify both his natural tastes and

his physical needs. An insectivorous bird will not die if fed solely on

seeds; but his digestive organs will be impaired, the circulation and

temperature of the blood will be affected, his nervous system enfeebled,

and all these will prejudice the reproductive faculty.


It is therefore necessary to combine ordinary hygienic precautions

with a diet conforming to the instincts and tastes of our subject. In these

circumstances, birds winch have not hitherto bred, will pair, and rear young

in captivity. The truth of this is self-evident, but we can draw illustrations

from our more domesticated animals.


The common fowl, a mere egg-producing machine, stops laying or

lays only unfertile eggs, when subjected to unfavourable conditions and,

surely, we need not expect better results with delicate birds, which we

suddenly deprive of sunshine and liberty — the two great elements of life.


To sum up, every animal — there is not an exception—will breed in

captivity if it is tended with proper care and adequate knowledge. These

things may posibly make large inroads into one’s leisure, but such services

are not impossible, and difficulties should stimulate, rather than discourage,

the amateur bird fancier.


L' Aviculteur, Paris, r8 Mai, i8g§. Dr. H.


Translated by Arthur J. Jones,


6, Fitzroy Street, Uondon, W.



GO FROM HOME TO HEAR HOME NEWS.



The following cutting from an Egyptian Newspaper has been for¬

warded by Mr. Alexander Phillipps, of Alexandria, and may be of interest

to our readers : —


Un journal d’historie naturelle, qui se publie en Angleterre, relate

l’liistoire suivante, ou il est prouve que les perroquets ont la memoire du

coeur.


Un de ces oiseaux, domicilie a Mayfair, fut durant quelque temps

nourri et soigne par un domestique avec lequel il entretenait les rapports



