37°



Capt. G. A. Perreau,



could ever go back to poultry. I am afraid I shall get few

converts till I can show a good fat sum for birds sold, then some

people will try probably with disastrous monetary results at

first, yet they will be caught at any rate in some cases, and then

it will be my turn to jeer ; but I shall not do it, but perhaps will

show my accounts on the expense side, it would cheer up anyone

who has once started, but is calculated to make outsiders shy off

aviculture : however, better days are close at hand even with a

very poor market. I might mention here that most of this

paper was written last February, and that things have moved

considerably in the bird line since then ; not only have my new

aviaries been completed, but more birds have been received, and

I have been considerably more fortunate in breeding. However

I will try to keep as much as possible to the period before this

year, as the new birds and the new aviary mark a new era

for me.


Now to the aviary itself, and birds. I fear it will seem

uncommonly small to most of our members, and the birds very

common, but it and they have given me a great deal of pleasure.

The whole account is probably more suited to the early numbers

of the Old Series, but editors are believed to have blue or red

pencils, and something of interest may be found in this rather

lengthy account in which rarities have no place.


My second severe attack of bird fever was contracted in

1900, whilst at home on furlough, a pair of Zebra Finches proving

my downfall, as in my first attack. It grew gradually until my

departure for India in January, igoi, with a nice little cage full

of Waxbills, &c. I picked up more at Bombay, making 70 in

all; about 60 reached Bakloli. The very first night a cat got at

them and killed 10, of course odd birds spoiling another 10 for

breeding purposes.


Luckily there was a cage (6ft. by 3ft. by 2^-ft.) available,

belonging to a bird-loving lady, who has since unfortunately left

the station. This cage is now my property and has come in very

useful. The birds were put in this till my aviary was built. The

birds were in the aviary at the end of May, nearly two months

after arrival in Bakloh, thanks to slow work.


The whole aviary only measures in feet 14 by 4 by



