Cori espondence.



73



Mv aviaries are built in rather a rustic maimer facing south-west,

backing out on an estuary of the Solent, (the Beaulieu River).


The laud, slopes down to the water so that the avaries get very wet

in the winter.


The largest aviary is twenty-seven feet square, with two sheds at the

back, and the birds can always go in or out of these at their pleasure.


The sheds are rather draughty, and in prolonged wet weather the

rain comes through the roof. The birds do not seem to mind though and

always look in the pink of condition. I do not think I have had a single

•case of a bird dying from cold pure and simple.


Before I had the aviary properly boarded up at the ends, I lost some

birds after several days of continual south-west gale with driving rain.


My onl}' fad is to under feed my birds. That is to say, they are fed

every morning and by the next day every seed is eaten and they have

evidently got healthy appetites for their breakfast.


Their menu consists of Canary seed (the best) French millet and

■spray millet and a few Sunflower seeds. In cold weather they have in

addition, a little hemp.


I cannot help thinking that many birds in captivity are over-fed.

.Since feeding mine less they have looked much better and are much more

active.


All the birds can pick over the soft-food which consists of “ Cecto,”

bread and cake crumbs, currants, sultanas, suet (in cold weather), any fruit

that is in season and green stuff. Mealworms in winter only, as the birds

■catch so many insects amongst the bushes and tall grass.


Philip Gossk.



FOOD OF THE LITTLE GREBE.


Sir,—I should be much obliged if you could put me in touch with

■some member of W\o. Avicultural Society who has had practical experience

in keeping Dabehicks (Little Grebe).


All the birds I get die within a few days and I evidently do not

understand how to get them started in captivity.


I have sent several to the Zoo, but the results there also were

■disappointing.


I shall probably have an opportunity of getting several more birds

-shortly and should like to know how to treat them. C. Barnby Smith.



