84 Bif d Notes from Far ajid Near. 
mesh wire netting ; a wire partition runs tliroiigli the centre, 
separating the small birds from their larger kin. The arrange- 
ments and fittings appear to be as perfect as possil)le — pools of 
running water — low growing shrubs — swings and perches of 
every kind. . . By importing and other means, a large, varied 
and interesting series have been gathered together. The writer 
states: We have raised birds which the books say never bred 
in captivity; how? By anticipating their wants and giving them 
as near as possible a natural environment. . . Thus, some never 
carrj' twigs, therefore they don't build nests. For those we 
supply trunks of trees cut in sections and hollowed out. . . We 
have reared hundreds of Grass Parrakeets. . . Rose Cockatoos 
have bred and reared a brood of five, which have since been 
followed by others. . . Cockateels are handsome grey birds and 
very prolific. We have also the brilliant King Parrot, a peace- 
able, elegant bird, the mischievous, gorgeously coloured Lory, 
with his acrobatic stunts ; the Pink-crested Cockaoto and other 
varieties. . . Among the larger birds we have Bronze. Crested 
and Bleeding-heart Pigeons. . . Of Doves we have the rare and 
beautiful Blue-eyed Zebra of Australia and the Pink-eyed Pekiii 
of China, the latter is the smallest Dove known, being only 
about the size of a Norwich Canary, but having a longer tail. 
The Finches are a study in themselves. We have the 
Strawberry, Black-throats, and others too numerous to mention. 
The Black-throats* have bred, they fill a box with wild dried 
grass and build nest at one end, the eggs are usually four in 
number, the young stay in the nest until fully feathered, and 
never return to the nest after their first flight. 
" A friend said I see you have a Brazilian Cardinal ; does 
he sing? I told him the bird was apparently dumb. Strange! 
he said. Why in their native home they are wonderful singers. 
, . then occurred a remarkable thing. The man, whispering 
to me to watch the bird, drew clo.se to the wire, uttering a low, 
peculiar whistle. Instantly the Cardinal seemed to awaken, his 
crest lifted, he seemed to be whistling ; then, as the whistle con- 
tinued, he answered sharply, eagerly, flew over to a perch by the 
side of the wire from whence came the whistle, and broke forth 
* ! Bib-finches. W.T.P. 
