144



Corresponde?ice , Notes, etc.



in the warm season only. In cold weather, most little birds can be driven

back into their shelter without difficulty, many will go back of their own

accord; they readily learn their way backwards and forwards through quite

a small aperture, so that the inner part may be kept comfortable. During

open weather in the winter, most of these small foreign birds are all the

better for a fly and a little pecking about in their little garden. We do not

tether our children out on the lawn and leave them there both night and

day—but even in the coldest weather we let them out for a run. And this

driving of the birds backwards and forwards is very valuable in hindering

them from going to nest during the cold season.


Mr. Seth-Smith refers to allied forms being kept together. Allied

forms are all very well when the birds are males or non-breeders; but where

there is nesting (as a general rule) allied forms are more likely to quarrel

than are those which are dissimilar. At any rate I have found them so.


I should like to add a plea on behalf of the Birds of Prey, Diurnal

and Nocturnal, that at least some of them might be allowed a little more

liberty. Several of the smaller species may be kept safely together in a large

place. And what more beautiful than the graceful flight of these birds !

Kestrels and Hobbies I have often kept together. I never but once had a

mishap, and then curiously enough it was a faultless Sparrow-Hawk that

was attacked and killed, not the other way about. And even the Owls

delight in freedom. Mr. Wiener would have spoken differently of them

had he known them better. I have kept the four larger British Owls (Long-

ear, Short-ear, Brown, White) together without a quarrel, but not in pairs.

And there must be plenty of space, and food for all must be put out at the

same time. Scops, too, may be kept together, and will breed without

accident—but of course the place must not be too small. Many of the

Corvidce may be kept with small hawks, but not with owls.


One matter more. Should the first thought of the Zoological

authorities in keeping birds be to facilitate the identification of species, or

should they not rather seek to find out the natural life of the birds ? Surely

the latter. We do not want our dear old Zoo. to be turned into a Museum

of dry bones. Let those who desire to identify specimens and examine

feathers go to South Kensington. But at the Gardens let aviculture be

encouraged; and the more natural the surroundings are the more truth¬

fully may this be done. It is careful attention in this connection at

Frankfurt (p. 25) that has produced such splendid results there. Mr.Wiener

seems to apply it all to the keeping of birds in cages. He omits to mention

that the front of the bird-house consisted “ of large aviaries opening into

open-air aviaries.” Moreover, gate-money is not to be flouted: an open

aviary has far greater attractions for the many-headed than has a row of

cages. To them a bird is a bird and nothing more. One from the country,

who certainly ought to have had higher ideas, told me not long ago that the

Hedge Accentor is a “ Sparrow because it is a brown bird like a Sparrow.”



