Aviary Notes.



33



AVIARY NOTES.


By H. E. Goddard.


In my perusal of the monthly numbers of the Avicultural

Magazine , it has often occurred to me that it would be a good

thing if some of our members, whose names we only know through

their appearance in the yearly list, would give us their experiences

from time to time. I refer especially to those who, like myself, keep

but a small number of birds, and those of the most commonly

imported and, therefore, cheap species.


My own experience dates from about twenty-five years ago,

when I purchased a pair of Bronze Mannikins, which, though not

particularly interesting themselves, gave me that love for the little

foreigners which I have never lost. The list of birds which I have

kept is not a very extensive one : — Waxbills, Avadavats, Ribbon

Finches, Gouldian, Zebra, Long-tailed Grass Finches, Red Crested

Cardinals, Green and Grey Singing Finches and Ruficaudas, Bud¬

gerigars, Cockateels, Madagascar and Blue-winged Love Birds and

Blossom-headed Parrakeets practically comprising the lot. My only

experience of Soft-bills, largely through want of time to attend to

them, has been with Pekin Nightingales, cheap, but nevertheless

very delightful birds and mostly, easily tamed. But the birds

which have and still attract me most are the small seed-eaters,

Waxbills and Grass Finches, especially the former. My pocket is a

modest one and consequently I have had to confine my attention to

the more common varieties. Of these I have had, at various times,

the common and green Avadavats, Cordon Bleu, Orange-cheek,

Orange-breasted, Common African and Cinereous Waxbills.


With the exception of the Green Avadavat, I have had more

experience of these birds than of any of the others I have mentioned

and, therefore, will try and give, in as few words as possible, my

ideas of them as desirable inmates of an aviary.


They are all delightful little birds and have given me many a

happy hour watching their interesting ways. Of course, we know

that the great aim of the aviculturist is to get his birds to reproduce

their species, and although this has been my wish for many years

past, I must frankly confess that up to the present, I have completely



