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many of the doves with badl}^ cut wings, wounded against the

netting, and drops of blood all over the floor. I consulted with

the local joiner, a very practical man, who gave it as his opinion,

that unless the mischief was caused by “an howl” he could stop

it, though w T hy he thought the mere sight of an owl could frighten

the birds to such an extent I do not know. This joiner put

up for me six ordinary striped canvas roller blinds, on the two

open sides of the aviary. These blinds are drawn down every

night at dusk, and to prevent them flapping are secured at the

bottom with hooks and rings. The west blinds, being rather

long and wide, have light laths of wood slipped across to hold

them tight to the wire. I have found these blinds useful for

other purposes than the one they were originally intended for.

In winter they keep the place warmer, and afford protection in a

strong wind, and if a nervous bird is nesting close to the wires,

the blind in front of the nest can be kept lowered, and so ensure

perfect quiet. As an additional precaution against the cats, I

had wire netting fastened loosely round the aviary top, slanting

outwards, in the same manner as that used in pheasantries to

keep out foxes. The cats still frequent the garden at night, but

I have the satisfaction of feeling my birds have never suffered

since.


Eater on, mice made their appearance, and worried the birds

whilst nesting. A pair of Turtles (Turtur turtur), who had

sat very steadily were disturbed. Both birds are very tame, so I

caught the hen and put her back on fhe eggs, but could not

induce her to stay. It was very pretty to watch these two birds

while nesting, come on my hands to be fed. They did not mind

my standing close to the nest in the least. Direct^ the one

sitting left the nest to fly to me, the other would at once take

its place on the eggs, and patiently wait until the first bird had

finished feeding. The hen, whom I named “Jamie,” mistaking

her at first for the cock, loves to nestle in my hand and be

petted, but though so affectionate, she is very jealous, and

deeply resents me bestowing too much attention on any of the

other doves.


Eventually, I got rid of the mice by catching them in little

break-back traps, known as the “ Out-’o-sight ” mouse-trap.

They cost about fourpence each, and I have found them most

effective . To prevent any risk of the doves getting caught in

them, I had each trap screwed into a small wooden box (which

also protects them from the rain), part of the front end being cut

out to allow room for the mouse to enter. The box lid can be



