Starting an Aviary. 
47 
in a miserable condition on arrival, and several died within 
a few days; the marvel is that any of them survived. From 
another source I ohtained pairs of Orange and Grey "Wax- 
bills, and Hartz Mountain Canaries. 
Now came a I'ather amusing experience with a lady, 
not a member of F.B.C., but as T discovered later, a sort .of 
"amateur-dealer." I had ordered one pair each of St. Helena 
and Orange -cheeked ■\Vaxbill.s, Red Avadavats and Bronze 
Mannikins. On arrival the l>ox contained: 1 pair Orange- 
cheeks, 1 live and 1 dead Grey "Waxbill, 1 Bronze Alannikin 
and 1 Corabasou. I at once wrote and asked about the 
Avadavats and the Combasou. T got a reply to the efTect 
that the Combasou was Mrs. Bronze-wing and that the Ava- 
davats had been packed, but must have escaped when the 
railway-clerk was checking the birds, b,ut it was a trifling 
matter, etc., and another pair should be sent — needless to say 
I am still waiting for those Avadavats. 
My stock was soon further increased by two pairs each 
of Golden -breasted Waxbills, Cordon Bleus, and Bengalese; 
also pairs of Red Avadavats, Black -headed Mannikins (the 
others had died), Magpie and Tricolour Mannikins, Firefinches, 
Paradise Whydahs; Yellow, Napoleon and Grenadier Weavers, 
Green .A.vadavats, and Saffron Finches. Thus was July ushered 
in and T decided I must not out in any more till next spring. I 
have had some losses, of course; hoth pairs of Bengalese 
died almost at once, and the hen Fireflnch enjoyed but a very 
short life, but the cock came into colour, yet died with the 
advent of cold weather (T expect he ought not to have been 
left out in an unheated aviary). The Paradise Whydah came 
into colour, and was a great joy. as also was the Grenadier 
Weaver. The Grenadier was the only Weaver that came into 
colour, though I am sure I have cocks of the other two 
species < ' 
There have been a few other deaths during the Minter, 
but the bulk of the birds are still thriving, although we are 
experiencing Ivitter weather, and severe frosts, and there is 
no artificial heat in the aviary. I may add that Dorset is my 
county. 
Nesting results have not been very encouraging,* al- 
though there was plenty of cover (my friends say too much 
