128



My Indian Aviary.



acclimatised ; they got as far as eggs and were nesting again

when I got rid of them, prior to my departure. During the short

while I had them Green Avadavats and Tricoloured Nuns got as

far as young, and Black-headed Nuns and Chestnut-breasted as

far as eggs. Other ornamental finches had no chance, being odd

birds.


Bustard Quail laid several times but the cock would not sit.

Jungle Bush Quail laid and the hen sat well, and they had bad

luck in hatching the very day I had to clear out the aviary. I

only went in for Quail since 1907, but certainly shall not be with¬

out them in future if I can help it. I think I have now gone over

all birds of which I have kept pairs long enough to give them a

chance to breed.


I find I have said nothing about heating. The first winter

I kept a Sunrise oil-stove burning at night. The second, I was

away and no heating was attempted, with apparently no harmful

results. The third, the stove was only used in especially bad

weather. Only once did the stove go wrong, and then fortunately

the smell of smoking oil penetrated the bedroom and the flaming-

stove was carried outside before harm was done. The room was

black all over and it could be seen for some time after which birds

had roosted inside. I own that I should like to heat the aviary

in winter if it could be done safely and economically, but after all

very many birds prefer roosting in the verandah, for instance

Gouldians and Hanging Parrakeets. These, one would think, of

all the birds, would require warmth the most, yet they have kept

as fit as anything. However I feel that heating might be bene¬

ficial and that it could certainly do no harm, always provided

that the apparatus did not go wrong. Even in England this has

happened. Anglo-Indians (from the Punjab at any rate) can

easily understand my preferring to use heat as seldom as

possible.


I have before given my reasons for not‘-going in for”

Indian birds and I fear many of our members will not care Pu¬

tins account of common birds, but rarity is comparative and I

think I can safely say that I have had more difficulty in pro¬

curing my common birds than most aviculturists have had over

their prizes. Actual expenditure, though not small, was the



