Notes on my Birds.



129



arrangement as the Doves, who like to be comfortable, wilt sit on

them, and it must be very weakening. The front is all glass

shutters that can be taken down independently of each other.

The aviary itself is built of two thicknesses of wood with a felt

lining between, and is built against a wall. It is about 15 ft.

high at the top of the span, and has two opening skylights in

the roof, and a window at each end, so there is plenty of light.

It is divided into two parts, one rather larger than the other and

is entered at each of the outer ends by a little porch and double

door.


The smaller half has at present only seven occupants.

One is a hen Crested Dove that is about the oldest bird I have.

Years ago she hit her wing and crippled herself from ever flying

again for life. But this did not daunt her spirit, she could climb

if she could not fly, and frequently used to get right to the top

branches of the aviary. But pride had literally a fall. She

would perhaps be startled and lose her balance and tumble to the

aviary floor, apparently being none the worse for her fall. But

one day, to my horror, I found she had an enormous wound 011

her breast. It was almost unnoticeable, through the feathers

covering it, till the bird was examined and I could only conclude

it had started with her first falling and with repeated falls had

never been able to heal properly. It was so terrible a wound,

though it did not bleed, that I thought of having the bird

destroyed, but her life was spared and the place not only healed

but you could not tell where the wound had been if you were to

look at her now. Of course her climbing propensities had to be

stopped and all branches fixed above her reach except a long one

to perch on. In this aviary is one of my special pets a little Blue¬

cheeked Barbet that is known by the name of “ Barbie.” He is

such a bright cheery little fellow and always contented and happy,

and is no trouble to keep. He lives on a diet of “soft” food, that

I buy at 8d. a lb., mixed with crushed biscuit and moistened, and

a little cut up fruit every day for dessert. “ Barbie” has a varied

appetite and uothing comes amiss,—banana, sweet water grapes,

orange, tomato, chopped pear and apple, and elderberries, some¬

times too,—he likes a little dry biscuit broken up small. I have

had “Barbie” now for some years so may consider him well



