Piactical Bird-Keeping. 263


never fail to elicit amusement from one’s friends, and Reeves are

very dainty and elegant little birds. Oyster-catchers are easy ? to

keep but very nervous. Their long beaks are apt to split, and

when this happens the bird must be caught and the beak carefully

pared. Godwits are not difficult to keep when once established.

The Black-tailed is in my opinion far more desirable than the

Bar-tailed. Turnstones are not easy to obtain, but are most

striking in breeding plumage, and their habit of continually

turning over stones, etc., in search of food, is very amusing. I

find them quite easy to keep, fed and treated as above indicated,

but cannot say the same of Ringed Plover, Dunlins and Sander-

lings, which probably require more varied diet and closer

attention than I can give—anyhow, they do not thrive perman¬

ently with me. I say “ permanently ” because it is quite easy to

keep these small birds for a few weeks or months, but as they

then usually get out of condition they cannot be regarded as

satisfactory inmates of an aviary such as mine. Golden Plover

and Grey Plover are not difficult to keep, but the Lapwing

generally gets out of condition and in my opinion it is cruel

to attempt to keep it in a small enclosure. The same remark

does not apply to its relative the spur-winged Cayenne Plover of

America, which gives me no difficulty in a small enclosure. It

is, however, a very fierce bird at times. I see that a few years

ago I wrote to the Avicultural Magazine urging the claims of the

Avocet as the most charming of Waders. Wider experience

(not my own only) has led me to believe that until we know

more of their needs it is useless to try and keep these delightful

birds. I am well aware that now and again Avocets are success¬

fully kept, but the percentage of failure is enormous. Redshanks

are more delicate than many other birds and are apt to moult

badly. One of the most desirable birds for a small Waders

aviary is the Allen's rail. It is, however, apt to catch cold if

allowed to roost out of doors in severe winters. The Martinique

Rail is also a charming little bird, but not so elegant. The

common English Water-Rail I have found quite easy to keep,

and it looks quite in place sneaking between clumps of rough

grass by the water’s edge. The Australian Pectoral Rail if kept

with small birds should be watched closely, as it is apt to be



