Fresh Air for Birds.



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markings, not only in contrast thereto, but in actual fact. Many

of the deeper tinted pink ones only have the markings visible as

a faint indefinite ring.


In shape the eggs are a broad obtuse oval ; the texture is

very fine and close, and the surface smooth and sometimes rather

glossy, but the shell is fragile and brittle in proportion to the

size of the egg. This, the size, averages 75 ft. by -56 ft. for

one hundred eggs.


They breed principally in April and May, but I have seen

eggs laid the last week in March and again as late as the last

week in August.


Gungong, North Cachar, where my birds lived, was about

two thousand, five hundred feet above sea level, but Paradisi

typica is common all over the plains nearly, and Paradisi a,finis

certainly is found up to four thousand feet, if not higher. They

are easy birds to feed, easy to tame and are patient of changes of

temperature so they should not be difficult to keep even in the

climatic variety show called England. I11 point of beauty there

are few birds they do not excel and if some of their notes are

harsh and discordant, some are quite pleasant and might almost

be called beautiful.



FRESH AIR FOR BIRDS.


By Katharine Currey.


The need of fresh air for birds, even those of hot countries,

is now so well recognised that the few remarks I have to make

here are merely added testimony to the fact that birds cannot

live long or remain healthy without it. Even in the cold of our

Northern climate I have found that so-called delicate birds, such

as the Tanager, the Dhyal Bird of India, the Rock Thrush and

Blue Thrush, can be hardened to bear the ordinary cold of an

English winter and spring (but not a very bitter North or East

wind, nor a cold fog) provided they have a shelter to retire to.

Of course, great care has to be taken during moulting. It would

be interesting to try a very gradual acclimatisation of tropical

birds in England, in pure fresh air, and making use of every ray

of sunshine.



