My Sunbirds’ Aviary.



91



are so spiteful by nature, but so far, there have been no serious rows

beyond occasional bad words, owing no doubt to their being able to

get away from each other, and also to the great number of feeders pro¬

vided round the different sides of their enclosure. It is a pretty

sight of a morning and after the daily cleaning' process has taken

place, to see them all crowding round the entrance door, waiting' the

appearance of the food tray, then perching all over it the moment it

is carried into the aviary, each bird eager to be first served or to find

his favourite feeder.


As my bird-room opens on one side into a large and well-

heated hall there is little need for any artificial heating, as the door

is constantly left open when the windows are kept closed, and the

air admitted is quite warm enough, but as an extra ordinary pre¬

caution against frost there is also an electric radiator; which how¬

ever is but seldom used.


I am often asked which species of these lovely birds I like

most. Indeed it is hard to say, though for combined grace of shape

and attitude, charming plumage and brilliant song, perhaps the

Malachite is my favourite"—one of them especially, who from the

first was always tame, and allows me to touch him without even

trying to get away. Then the African Amethyst,—a bird sombre

yet radiant like a tropical night,—deep violet all over with a copper-

coloured spot on the rump, blue shoulder, an emerald green cap and

a gorget that flashes like a flame in the light. To the Lesser and

Greater Double-collared I have one objection only, that is the fact

that after the first moult the crimson of the breast fades away into

orange, though all the tints of the body remain as brilliant as ever.

It is of course possible yet, as this species has only been some six

months in my possession, that the original crimson may reappear,

but I fear it will not, and the same may apply to the Red Sunbird,

who, at time of writing, is in the moult. But of my present col¬

lection, the gem is that rarest of rare birds, the Scarlet-chested or

Southern Bifasciated Sunbird (Cinnyris mariquensis). This species

inhabits the wilds of the lower parts of the Transvaal, and in order

to procure it for me, as well as another charming one, the White-


* The beautiful Malachite Sunbird, exhibited by Mr. A. Ezra at the last

L.C.B.A. Show, was also the public’s favourite.—ED.



