70 
Br i t Lsh Corvidae. 
domed in shape. Occasionally it resorts to a hedge or bush for 
the purpose, but in this case the magpie iiivai'iabiy chooses 
a thick, bushy, and very thorny spot. The black and white 
plumage and long tail make him a very handsome pet. If 
allowed to run loose he needs to have one wing clipped, and 
this necessary precaution usually means a broken and ragged 
tail. Consequently the l>etter plan is to keep him in a large 
aviary, with full use of his wings. Some of mine have become 
very good talkers and mimics. They have learned to laugh, 
whistle, kiss, and say several sentences. The barbarous habit 
of slitting the tongue to make them talk is still resorted to in 
the country. How such a cruel and senseless act can be sup- 
posed to achieve the object, is a mystery. Fortunately there 
are signs that the ignorant custom is dying out, as the rural 
and bucolic mind becomes more enilightened by education and 
Nature study. 
To be cjiitinued. 
♦ 
Visits to Members' Aviaries. 
By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S., etc. 
In October, 1914, I visited Alton, and viewed the 
Aviarie. and birds at " The Lord Mayor Treloar Cripples' 
Hospital and College," calling, on the return journey, on Mr. 
W. H. Fisher, at Farnham, and Mr. C. E. Croker, at Lower 
Bourne, for the purpose of seeing their aviaries and birds, and, 
I think, some account of what I saw will be of interest to 
our members. 
The L.M.T.C.H. & C. Aviaeies and Birds : I need 
say but little about these aviaries as they have been already 
figured in " Bird Notes," but will merely recapitulate size — 
Finch Aviary: Flight 30ft. x 20ft., Shelter 30ft. x 10ft.; 
Parrakeet Aviary: Flight 20ft. x 20ft., Shelter 20ft. x 10ft.— 
and state that in the Finch Aviary natural cover is abundant 
and the arrangement very picturesque. In the Parrakeet 
Aviary the ground area of tlight is turfed, and there are an 
abundance of tree trunks, branches, etc.. The occupants of 
lx)th aviaries were in a very tit and flourishing condition. 
