on Mr. Heumann’s Aviaries at' Beecroft , N.S.W. 305



Laughing Jackass.


Willy Wagtail.


White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater

Masked Wood Swallow.


Dusky Wood Swallow.

White-backed Magpie.

Black-throated Butcher Bird.

Crested Shrike Tit.

Rufous-breasted Whistler.


Yellow Robin.


Mistletoe Bird.


White naped Honey-eater or

Black Cap.


Blood-bird.



Lambert, or Variegated Wren.

West Australian Red-winged

Wren.


White-browed Wood Swallow.

Spinebill.


New Holland Honey-eater.

White-cheeked Honey-eater,


“ White Whiskers.”

Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater.

Yellow-throated Friar-bird.

Satin Bower-bird.


Regent-bird.


Cat-bird.



Many of the birds in the foregoing list are naturally shy

in the extreme, and the observer who walks in Mr. Heumann’s

roomy aviaries will perhaps find himself puzzling over three things :

(1) How it was possible to capture such birds : (2) How they are

so readily tamed; and (3) How is it possible to satisfactorily feed,

while in a state of captivity, such tender, wild things. Such birds

as the glorious little Blood-bird, or Sanguineous honey eater, the

dainty little mistletoe-bird and the handsome ciested shrike-tit

would appear to be particularly difficult to catch as well as to main¬

tain alive after capture. These, and nearly all the others, are caught

with bird-lime in their native haunts, usually at feeding or drinking-

places, frequently after many hours of patient search and waiting.

It is in the pursuit of such birds that the finest instincts of the

bush-naturalist are developed, and where observations of habits are

made that would never otherwise be recorded. As far as the taming

process is concerned, I can personally testify in a small way, to

what Mr. Heumann and other keepers of our wild birds have found,

that when treated in an attentive and affectionate manner, while

suitably housed, they become quite tame very rapidly indeed. In

the present case Mr. Heumann has taught his feathered pets to love

him, and it is a pretty sight, indeed, to see typical wild bush-birds,

like the wood swallows and whistlers (Thickheads) coming, when



