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Practical Bird-Keeping.



having been settled by the highest authorities of the time, might

have been accepted without further question. However, it was

not, and their decision is reversed apparently because Albin’s

figure is that of an English bird. As both species bred in

England in those days, we fail to grasp the significance of the

reasoning, but the fact remains that a well-established name has

been upset, a fact which of itself must lead to confusion.


Possibly the next generation may ignore this work as they

have ignored (in print at all events) the work of the last century,

and there will then be a further reversal of names. Apart from

the nomenclature, which after all is ornithologically but a minor

part of the book, we have nothing but praise for this handy

manual, which in bringing our present knowledge clearly up to

date, will prove of inestimable service to all working British

ornithologists.



PRACTICAL BIRD-KEEPING.



XVII.—WADERS.


By C. Barnby Smith.


Those small marsh or sea shore birds popularly known as

“ Waders” are, I think, very interesting in many respects, but in

this beyond all, that they, with a little difficulty, may have their

enclosure so arranged as to make a pleasing little picture in the

garden—a thing that cannot be done with many other kinds of

birds. Water, of course, is a necessity, but this need not be in

great volume if it is kept fresh. My own arrangement as regards

water for my small Waders' aviary is a little pond formed by a

concrete bed about 5 yards by 3 yards edged with brick cemented

walls about 3 feet high, the top of the walls being below ground

level. The bottom of this little pond I covered with earth and

sods to an average depth of about i| feet, sloped the earth out¬

side the pond in banks down to the top of the walls, covered the

top of the walls with sods of coarse growing grass, planted

rushes, flags, and semi-aquatic vegetation in and around the pond

(making one miniature island in addition), with the result that

the fact that the pond is artificially constructed is by no means



