298 Mr. Frank Finn,


THE TRANSPORT OF BIRDS.


By Frank Finn, B.A., F.Z.S.


As the cleverest aviculturist that ever lived cannot breed

from birds that he has not got, the question of transport may fairly

claim to be the most important in aviculture ; it is chiefly the

difficulties herein involved that account for the backward state

of our science compared with the sister pursuit of horticulture.

If one could transport birds in the egg as easily as plants in the

seed, how things would have boomed by this time!


The chief difficulties in transporting birds arise from the

necessity of very close confinement, and the inevitable altera¬

tions of temperature that have to be faced. The latter cannot

be entirely obviated, but travelling-cages might be a great deal

better made than one often sees them ; in fact, I think bad pack¬

ing is responsible for a great deal of failure in bird transport.


In a travelling-cage for long distances the room must be

secured by depth and breadth ; no more height should be allowed

than is necessary to give the occupants head-room when standing

erect on the floor or perch ; and the perches should only be just

so high above the floor as to ensure a bird not being jammed if

it tries to creep beneath them.


Of course one is familiar with cages of this pattern from

those used by continental dealers ; but for a long journey the

floor question becomes important. Wet dirt is the great trouble

to contend with in taking birds a long distance in a small space ;

the terror of germs is, I think, made too much of, but plastered

plumage and clogged feet are serious matters.


In bird importing, before everything else, one ought to

“ hope for the best and expect the worst.” One should clean

out the small travelling cages daily, and put in fresh sand or

sawdust, but the chances are that one will not have the oppor¬

tunity, owing to sea-sickness, awkward storage, or other causes ;

or, in the more probable case of the birds being sent in the

charge of someone else, that someone may lack the will as well

as the power to give daily attention in the matter of cleaning.

If the birds get fed daily, that is a mercy to be grateful for.

Moreover, sawdust and sand may be unattainable at the time



