The late Dr. W. T. Greene. 109


I hardly know what to suggest if this involves too much time and

trouble; shelter is absolutely indispensible, poultry meal and earthworms

are probably as good as game meal and, until they get really strong, egg and

scraped meat is essential. They might do without the bread and milk but it

is a very valuable adjunct, and fish is not essential but certainly useful during

the moult, and I might mention that some Greenshanks I shot this autumn

were apparently feeding on nothing but small fish. As regards the water and

the removing the cut primaries you will, of course, use your discretion, but

if you are not certain when to remove the quills err on the side of leaving

them for some time longer and in any case do not remove them unless the

bird is iu good condition. If a bird that has beeu well gets seedy it is

probably due to suppressed moult and shelter, warmth and good feeding is

the remedy, but the greatest of these is shelter. Waders do best in a

covered-in aviary facing south, the bottom being partly sand and partly turf,

and in winter part of the sand should be covered for an inch or two in moss

litter or moderately short straw.


The}' are delightful birds, if a little trouble be taken with them, but

they require attention. If I can give you any more information please

write and ask.


As regards Rails, they should be treated in much the same way as

Waders, but they are hardier, although not being found in this country

during the winter (the Water Rail excepted), they must, of course, be

sheltered from rain and wind, but artificial heat is not required.


I kept them tor some years in my small aviary where the}' did well on

the ordinary .soft food, which includes eggs, breadcrumb and meat, as well

as mixed seeds of which they also partook. As a rule they are quite

harmless and peaceful to the other birds, and I have only known them to

become dangerous when given insufficient animal food.


J. Lewis BonhoTE.



THE LATE DR. W. T. GREENE.



Parrots in Captivity is a work which 111 ay be found in the

bookshelves of Bird-Lovers throughout the length and breadth

of the land ; and not a few of our readers will be sorry to hear

that its genial author passed away on December 10, at his

residence iu Dunstable, on coming in from a walk on that cold

day, suddenly and unexpectedly, but painlessly and peacefully

as one feels is fitting in the case of one who has spent not only a

long and busy but also a good life, and is at peace with his

Maker. In days long since gone by, at least so it seems scTTasfT

does time flit past, many were the books on foreign and British



