122



Captain G. A. PERREAU,



eaten in the night; although I doubted its being the work of a

mouse, traps were set, but with no result. Two mornings later,

on going early to the aviary, I found the Centropus on the ground,

standing on the dead body of the second dove, which he was tear¬

ing to pieces with his sharp bill and devouring with evident

relish ; since then I have constantly given him a dead Sparrow or a

mouse and he has always eaten them ; he is a voracious and by no

means particular feeder—insects, egg, sopped bread and fruit are

all part of his daily menu, but he loves a bit of chopped rabbit’s

liver more than anything else. He does not appear to feel the

cold much, and though in a heated aviary at night, during the

day he always is out in the enclosure in front ; his condition and

order at present are very good and I see no reason why, with care,

he should not live for a long time.


Since writing the above notes I hear that Mr. Hamlyn

has received a pair of Centropus from South Africa, which maybe

the same species as mine, and if so my bird has no longer the

honour of being the only living example of this species in

England.



MY INDIAN AVIARY.


By Captain G. A. Perreau.


(Concluded from page 92).


Rats give no trouble and cats not much. The latter some¬

times cause a scare in the old aviary, when the catch-em-alive

box trap in the verandah is set and the obnoxious one is per¬

manently removed. For practical purposes the few tame cats in

the station may be ignored, as they have not bothered me.

Any Hawk or Crow attracted to the aviary usually waits long

enough for a gun to be got out, and the trouble ceases. Snakes

cannot be kept out, but they seldom come, and the birds will soon

let you know and also locate the reptile for you. Owls would be

a nuisance perhaps if the birds roosted outside, but with an

occasional exception they roost undercover, having no encourage¬

ment to do otherwise. Mice are the most apt to give trouble ;

though, bar eating seed, they have done no damage that I can

trace to them for certain. A tin or box placed in a corner close



