128 Aviary Notes for 1906.


and makes a stream through the flight, which is 27 feet long, 8

feet wide, and 7 feet high, and is covered with wire netting,

half-inch mesh. This is planted with small spruce and box

trees, ferns, reeds, primroses, &c, and the brick wall is covered

with ivy.


The inner portion of the aviary is heated with hot water

pipes, on the greenhouse system, and is painted white inside and

well fitted up with nest boxes of every description. This year I

have had seven Silverbills from one pair; two nests, in the same

cocoanut husk in the flight ; three hybrids, from a Fawn and

White Bengali hen and a cock Spice Bird ; the young birds are

beautifully laced ; the parents were assisted in the incubation and

feeding by a cock Bronze Mannikin.


From my three pairs of Zebra Finches I have only three

young birds, out of one nest. Two pairs of Gouldians (black-

faced cocks and red-faced hens) both started to nest the last week

in August, both pairs choosing rush nests, hanging from the

roof of the aviary on the same level, and the openings exactly

facing each other, they sat splendidly, the cocks taking their

turns, and they were all friendly, no doubt because they had

lived together through the winter ; they would allow me to peep in

the nests and never attempt to fly off. I was very excited one

morning, when I was sitting in the aviary, after watching the two

hens feed and return to the nests, I heard faint husky chirps,

which daily got louder and louder until I heard them outside the

aviary. The climax was when three strong young birds flew out

of one nest and four out of the other : I have lost one of them, it

was the weakling ; but I am sorry to say I have lost both the hens

in the second nests : I did not wish them to nest again, but dare

not risk separating them from the cock birds, lest they should

not feed the young ones. I should do so another time, as my

two cock birds brought these young ones up alone, and they

seem very healthy lively birds and are quite unrelated, for I got

all four parent birds from different places. I am now thinking

of the pleasure I shall have in watching the young birds getting

their adult plumage.


My Bicheno Finches built a nest of white paper shavings

(out of a chocolate box) — such a little compact ball — in some



