i8o



Practical Bird-Keeping.



tion of their domestic affairs if done judiciously and by the

right person. Strangers should, of course, never be allowed in

the aviaries during the breeding season, and the fewer people

that are taken to see the birds at that time, even outside the

aviaries, the better. Birds, however, soon get to know their

keepers provided they are usually dressed in much the same

manner and take but little notice of them. Any inspection of

the nests, etc. should be done as far as possible from the outside,

and when nests are actually visited it should always be in broad

daylight and if possible when the parents are off feeding. Close

observation will soon give a hint as to when the birds are laying,

and one or two visits will be sufficient to establish the exact date

of the laying of the first few eggs, they may then be left entirely

alone till they are nearly due to hatch, the exact date of which

can then be usually determined by further close observation and

one or two more visits and a note of the down plumage may be

made at the same time. During the first week or so, after the

young are hatched, they may generally be visited with impunity,

and notes made on the early growth of the feathers, and, at the

same time, one can see that they are being well and suitably fed ;

during the latter stages of feathering they should be left alone

as otherwise they are certain to leave the nest too soon.


Such, then, are a few hints, which if followed should cer¬

tainly increase the chances of success. The true bird-lover who

knows and studies his charges will, of course, realise that these

broad notes must be modified and adapted to suit the individual

idiosyncrasies of every bird, for the lower animals have a great

amount of individuality which is too often ignored by their

keepers. Some of my readers may think the suggestions put

forward trivial in many cases and involving a good deal of

trouble; they have all, however, been founded on study, thought

and experience, and what can be obtained without trouble is

usually not worth obtaining. Of course, we cannot guarantee

success, but those who follow these instructions will at all events

deserve it, and even if they fail they will, if they be true bird-

lovers, be practically recompensed by the interest awakened and

knowledge gained from a closer study of their pets.



