An Enthusiast's Aviaries. 
27 
mometer in tlie ilif,^lit registered IG degrees of frost -fell to 
30 degrees (2 degrees of frost). During this cold spell I 
did not lose a single bird, which certainlj^ goes far to prove 
that provided the shelter is draught proof, many delicate 
species may be successfully kept in large Garden Aviaries 
where they can be merely driven into the shelter during the 
winter months. In the Road Aviary the birds use the flight 
and shelter at their option. When the cold weather sets in, 
the windows are closed up and the door only allowed to be 
open day and night, and through the coldest day all the birds 
appear to be in the pink of condition. 
During the two seasons I have now gone through, I 
at once confess the breeding results of the rarer species have 
not overwhelmed me with stock. Of the rarer specimens I 
have at the moment Violet-eared Waxbills incubating, the 
fourth attempt, and three times the young lived to be from 
three to eight days old. The Silver-eared Mesias and Indian 
White-eyes have canned out building operations all the sum- 
mer, but have never properly settled down to house -keeping. 
I find the Blue -cheeked Barbet roosts, or more properly 
reclines, in a coco-nut husk in the open; how he gets in and 
turns completely round — as he must do, because in his bed- 
room he has full view of any enemy that might approac', 
him — I do not know; he certainly looks most comical and oi 
course fills the husk out. 
i am so enchanted with the Sunbirds I have been for- 
tunate enough to see through the kindness of our well-known 
member and successful exhibitor, Mr. Ezra, that I have de- 
termined to introduce a few as opportunity offers and pocket 
affords — I fear the latter is the ruling factor. 
At the moment I have Malachite, Red Himalayan and 
Lesser Double -collared, and they are a glorious sight. Al- 
though November has arrived with all its disadvantages of 
dreary days and long nights, this class of bird — Sunbirds, Blue 
Sugar-birds, Yellow-winged Sugar-birds, White-eyes, Green- 
fronted Bulbuls, etc. — is in show condition. Up to the present 
they have full access to the flight and take full advantage of 
it although I find they roost in the shelter. — (Written No- 
vember 1st, 1914.— Ed.). 
