Events in my Aviaries during 1922



147



provides safe bathing places for the birds, and is much frequented by

pairs of Mandarin and Carolina Ducks and other Ducks. The aviary

is enlivened by a flock of Pekin Robins, young birds some of them,

but the nests were so well hidden that they were undetected. Though

these are great sinners with regard to interfering with other birds’

nests, they are so tame and pretty that I cannot find it in my heart

to banish them. Senegal Doves have three fully reared young, which

they drive and persecute incessantly ; these same Doves set on a pair

of Green-winged Doves and destroyed one of them. I think they

really are the most quarrelsome and vicious of the genus, which is

saying much. Giant Whydahs breed freely here, skilfully hiding their

nests among the long grass. The cock is most ornamental during the

summer, with scarlet and yellow on the wing, especially when flying

with his long tail floating behind him.


My greatest success in this aviary was the rearing of three young

hybrid Cardinals, Red-crested + Pope. Has this cross been obtained

before ? They are just getting their red heads, but it is too soon to

say if they will have crests. A pair of Californian Quails made several

attempts at breeding, but deserted their nests every time, probably

disturbed by mice, for it is really impossible to exclude these pests

altogether, though they can be kept down, and are by every means in

our power.


Along one side of this large aviary are four smaller enclosures : one

is empty ; the next contains a blue cock and several blue-bred Green

Budgerigars, from which I hope to breed Blues next year ; the other

compartments each hold a true pair of American Blue Birds (N.B. —■

They are not for sale), which were kindly presented to me by the

Zoological Society of New York, and are the pride of my heart.


Along the opposite side a passage aviary contains Canaries,

Goldfinches,-and Green Singing Finches; one end has been cut off

and forms a useful quarantine place.


My Gouldain Finches live across the garden in half of the Orangery ;

they look beautiful, and have certainly two, possibly three, nests.

One enterprising pair took possession of a table drawer, obtaining

entrance through a small hole at the back. The other half of the

Orangery contains the young Tanagers and the Fruitsuckers already

mentioned.



