On Mr. C. Castle-Sloane’s Aviary. 165


In the Class for Tanagers, Sugar Birds, etc., Mr. Townsend

as usual took the prizes. First came his magnificent Yellow

(Calliste flava), second his Tricolor (C. tricolor ), third his fine

Chloropsis hardwickii. Fourth came the same gentleman’s

White-capped Tanager. Mr. Hawkins received an extra third

prize for a fine cock Dacnis caya?ia.


The Class for all species not included elsewhere contained

an interesting assortment. Mr. Osbaldeston took first prize with

a magnificent Purple-headed Glossy Starling, Mr. Fyfield second

with his Senegal Touracou, Mr. Osbaldeston third with his

Toucan, and Mr. Townsend fourth with an Andaman Starling,

Mr. Harper’s Great Weaver (. Ploceus megarhynchus) was out of

colour, but was nevertheless well worth a card, and the same

gentleman’s Grey-winged Ouzel received a V.H.C.



MY AVIARY.


By C. Castle-Sloane, F.Z.S.


A short account of my new aviary may be of some interest

to our members ; it is 48ft. long and 32ft. wide. The houses are

built of brick ; and the roof is formed in two parts, the back part

being higher than the front, so as to allow sufficient light for the

cage birds which are kept on a shelf at the back. The roof is a

raftered one, match-boarded with felt and zinc above, which is

painted green ; it makes it warm in winter and not too hot in

summer. The flights are constructed of iron standards, the

wirework being light straight wired bird lattice (not the ordinary

wire netting), attached to iron standards, fixed in brickwork

which goes all round, making a shelter for the birds when they

are on the ground, the latter being paved with large flags, which

is quite as good as cement, if not superior ; as the latter, if not

properly laid, is apt to crack and break up ; and should you have

fountains (which I have) it is far better to pull up the flags to

see to the pipes, if necessary, than to break up and repair the

cement.


Planted in the flights are weeping willows, laurels, briars.



