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entrance. I have great hopes from this nest, but can only give

them a fortnight to develop, for after that time the room will be

wanted for a kitten-nursery. What the Pekins will do then, is

not settled yet. They would not be happy in a cage, and two

broody hens have taken the out-of-door aviary, the only other

place where they could have been accommodated, so perhaps

they will have to pay twopence and take their choice of a new

home in the advertisement columns of this Magazine. I shall be

very sorry to part with them, but Persian kittens go off pretty

well at a guinea each, while there does not seem to be a very

quick market for Leiotriches, delightful and amusing pets though

they are.


BREEDING IN THE OPEN AIR IN 1896 AT

MICKLEFIELD VICARAGE.


By the Rev. C. D. Farrar.


I venture to think that my success, so far, will afford both

pleasure and encouragement to our many members. I keep

the great majority of my birds in a very large outdoor garden

aviary ; here they live all the year round in the most perfect

health and plumage, and a death hardly ever occurs except from

old age or accident.


The size of the aviary I cannot give exactly, but its extent

may be judged when I mention that it is full of large growing

bushes and shrubs 6ft. and 7ft. high, in which some of the birds

prefer to build. To show, in passing, how utterly fallacious

many of the so-called Amateur Guides are, I may remark that

birds do not eat shrubs, though we are told by one self-styled

authority, “ that birds and trees are not compatible ; ” and many

of the so-called delicate birds are not a bit tender. By way of

proof, I may say that I had out all last winter, African Red¬

cheeked Waxbills, Cherry Finches, Diamond Sparrows, Bib

Finches, Blue Robins, Green Avadavats and many others which

are supposed to require hot house treatment. Now for my

breeding results, so far.


I. I will take the Blue Robins ; they are a grand pair,

and were out all last year. They began to nest in March ;

selecting a cigar box as their future home. In this receptacle

the hen formed a beautiful little cup-shaped nest : very small for

the size of the bird. The cock did nothing more than select the

site ; the hen did all the building.


During the time of incubation, the cock was most

attentive to the wants of his partner, taking her all the meal-



