118



Dr. L. Lovell-Keays,



SOME PRACTICAL REMARKS ON

PRACTICAL AVICULTURE.


By Dr. L. Lovell-Keays.


The title of my paper sounds rather comprehensive and I

trust will prove not only so but also comprehensible. Although

I have been interested in aviculture for just about twelve years,

I have only taken it up seriously for about eighteen months.

During that time certain facts (and I fear fancies) have impressed

themselves on me and I feel, or at any rate hope, that committing

them to writing may be of some interest, if not a little help, to

others. I have had to learn so much by experience that I am sure

others have had to learn by experience too, and I feel it is a pity that

other beginners should also have to tread the beaten track of

experience and have to learn by their own mistakes instead of

profiting' by the mistakes of others. This is by way of introduction

and apology for expressing my views at all in print. Please do not

think I have not had a great deal of advice, a considerable amount of

help and ever so much enjoyment from other and more experienced

aviculturists. Among aviculturists there is a true bond of brother¬

hood, and by far my most interesting correspondence is my avicul-

tural correspondence. But I have constructed aviaries of various

types, kept birds of various sorts and had failures of varying kinds.

If ever I build fresh aviaries I shall bear my past experiences in mind.


I propose in this article, or series of articles, to deal, in

the first place, with aviaries and their construction : in the second

place with foods and their preparation ; and in the third place with

birds and their reception and treatment. I do not intend to deal

with either section at great length, and I fear many of my deductions

will appear false, and I am sure many will disagree with me in some

of the things I shall say. In aviculture, as in all other sciences, it

is indeed a case of “ Quot homines tot sententicie” and I have no

mandate from the Oracle at Delphi which could lead me to imagine

I am infallible. For all my fallibilities I ask forgiveness, and for all

my ignorance I crave indulgence.


I have seen many aviaries, but I have yet to see the perfect



