a wholesome dread of aloe fibre, after having had some valuable

birds entangled and hung by it, and never use it now.


It is astonishing what an immense quantity of hay the small

Ornamental Finches can dispose of. In my aviary set apart for

these there are about fifty birds ; I give them a good handful of

hay almost every day, all of which gets tucked into their nestmg

boxes, only the shortest pieces being unappropriated, and they

are always ready for more.


The cock Sycalis arve^isis, in an open air aviary, has just

begun to sing. I know of nothing that so closely resembles his

song as saw-sharpening, of all sounds the most shrill except,

perhaps, the Bat's cry. It is a bright and active bird, but its

music is too excruciating. I should be glad to come across an

mndotibted female, as they should breed.


An incident that occurred a few days ago with me is

interesting in reference to the question of the hardiness of

tropical birds. My Shama, being almost more than tame, is

allowed the free run of the bird- house, and late one frosty after-

noon he slipped out into the garden as the door was opened.

Though as a rule he comes to me very readily, on this occasion

he absolutely refused to be caught and flew away out of sight, and

I was not able to secure him until the next morning. There was

sharp frost that night, the thermometer registering 22*^ F., but

my bird has not shown the slightest ill effedls from the cold and

exposure, though since he has been in my possession he has

never known a lower temperature than about 50° F. Doubtless,

however, it would not be safe to ai'gue from this incident that

the Shama can be kept in an open air aviary during the winter.


I have recently acquired a Dhyal Bird, which entirely

belies the reputation I have seen given to the species of being

excessively shy and nervous in disposition {a). My bird may be the

exception that proves the rule, as he is most bold and confiding,

taking mealworms (of which he is inordinately fond) from my

hand or pecking at my fingers if I don't oifer him one, and

whenever I approach his cage he comes close up to the wires to

see if I am bringing him anything. His close relationship to

the Shama is evident in his every movement and gesture, but he

is a larger bird and perhaps not quite so handsome. He has not

given me much opportunity of criticising his singing powers,

which are said to be at least equal to those of his near relative.

I feed these birds on a mixture of Abrahams' food, dried yolk,


(a) This bird is notoriously bold, even in its wild state.— R.P.



