Diuca Finches, Pileated Finches, vSpice Birds, Java Sparrows,

Citril Finches, Black-headed Mannikins, Nonpareils ; Zebra,

Ribbon, and Parson Finches; a Combasou, Diamond Sparrow,

and a Paradise Whydali (cocks), a Siberian Goldfinch, an odd

Silverbill; Russ’, Masked, Napoleon and Orange Weavers, a pair

of Black-headed Gouldians, and a Red-crested Cardinal.

Besides these, several Canaries and Goldfinch Mules ; these

latter are very tame, and, I believe, are a great help in quieting

wilder birds or fresh arrivals. In my Doves’ aviary, I find one

or two Barbary Doves serve the same purpose.


A pair of Indigo Finches had to be put into the smaller

division, owing to the animosity of the cock Nonpareil, who,

directly the cock Indigo was introduced into the aviary,

tormented him, though he was quite friendly with the hen, and

also with a previous cock of the same species. This hen Indigo

has just returned from having an operation performed on her.

Two tumours formed on her forehead, one over each eye ; one

seemed to shrivel up, but the other got much larger. The bird

remained for some time in this state, but, strange to say, her

bodily health did not seem to suffer. At last, not liking to see

her in such a condition, I sent her to Mr. Arthur, at Melksham,

who most kindly took out the tumours for me. He told me that,

at some time or other, the poor bird’s upper mandible had been

splintered at the base. The operation has been quite a success,

though, of course, the place being of such long-standing date,

it has left a scar; but the bird looks like living for years, and is

much healthier and happier.


Of course, among so many birds, I do not expect much

success in nesting, but they are all very happy together, and so far

I have only had one severe fight, when a Saffron Finch attacked

and killed an Indigo. Having thoroughly beaten it, the victor

rested satisfied, and during the whole of the week that the

Indigo lingered they were quite peaceable. The poor bird’s

head was badly pecked, and one of its ejms blinded. I had

hopes of its recovery, but one day I found it dead. A short time

afterwards the Saffron developed murderous tendencies towards

a Citril Finch, and one day I came into the aviary just in time to

find the latter pinned to the ground, and the Saffron, by repeated

blows, trying to break his skull. Formerly the Saffron lived in

a large cage with a hen and several other birds. Here he was

good-tempered ; but on being turned loose into the aviary with a

second hen—the first one died—he became quite dangerous to

the other birds.



