Birds of New South Wales I have caught and kept. 267


the tip off the upper mandible, which however grew again after a

week or so.


His food consisted of insectivorous food and meal-worms, but

nothing' came amiss to him, a special delicacy being a chop bone.

He rarely touched fruit of any kind. He used to “talk” to me

quite a lot in his way, and always at night he would respond to my

“Good-night, Pecker” with a little quiet “chipping” sound.

Another note was a prolonged scream, repeated several times as a

rule. He also had a special, agitated, loud and repeated “ Tchuck ”

which he used on hearing any unusual sound, a kind of alarm note

presumably to give warning of approaching danger.



BIRDS OF NEW SOUTH WALES I

HAVE CAUGHT AND KEPT.


By G. A. Heumann.


“ Willst du in die Feme schweifen,


Wenn das Gute liegt so nah.”


These fine words might with good results be applied also to

bird-keeping. It is human nature, however, to just want what is

hardest’ to get, and so we commence to keep seed-eating' birds, which

before long are joined by the delicate and—if the purse can stand it

—the most expensive Soft-bills and Honeysuckers often before we

are able to or capable of keeping them alive. I was no exception to

this rule, and during many visits to the Continent I always brought

back of rarities whatever I could buy or exchange for such Australian

birds I had taken home with me. In this way I often managed to

get pairs of rare birds which I afterwards bred successfully out here,

such as Scaly-headed finches, Red-collared Whydahs, Tanagers, and

many more. However, I always had a warm corner in my heart

for the native birds of my adopted country, and little by little,

recognizing' the charm of these home treasures, they filled my

aviaries. Now, after 20 years of tending them, there are but few

species of N.S.W. birds suitable for aviaries which have not been

inmates in my flights and often bred there. Yet, I admit it to my

sorrow, that before I managed to attain success I had to look down



