120 The Secret of Keeping Goitldian Finches. 
turned loose into an inner flight (warmed) and one bird has 
died. 
One can only suggest lack of stamina of the second 
birds, but the significant fact remains, that the four sur- 
vivors were caged and the seven that died were flying free 
in a bird-room. That brings us to the next point of con- 
sideration and that is — Do Gouldians do better in cages than 
in an aviary? I do not ask, " are they happier in an aviary"? 
Of course they are, although I don't think Gouldians could 
ever be really happy. They are at best solemn little beasties. 
Personally I am inclined to think they do better in cages 
if well kept than in an aviary, but of 'course you cannot 
breed them in a cage. It is my belief (I don't wish to dog- 
matise or to force my belief's on anybody) that these birds 
cannot stand damp retaining soils — nor can they stand the 
driving biting winds inseparable from an out-door aviary. 
Gouldians are extraordinarily idiotic and seem to choose the 
most exposed bush to roost in they can possibly find. This 
seems to be their invariable custom. It is a well-known 
fact that Gouldians are very subject to pneumonia. I ask a 
simple question : Do you think a bird is more likely to get 
pneumonia in a well made cage or in an exposed out-door 
aviary? Even a cage in a warmed bird-room is less liable 
to draughts or sudden changes of temperature, than the bird- 
room itself. Mr. Gray has also pointed out that brightly 
coloured birds are more prone to pneumonia than sombre 
plumaged ones. May not this be due to the fact that ceteris 
parihiifi, a beautiful bird, is more valuable than an ugly 
one. If more valuable, more often kept, and if both die it 
is more likely the brighter bird finds its way to the patholog- 
ists than the less valuable dull coloured bird. This is a mere 
suggestion, but it is good for us to think things out for our- 
selves and to come \o conclusions with the aid of special- 
ists but not by any means to ignore their experience and 
dicta. My object in writing at such length is first of all to 
get our readers (and that means you personafly) to help the 
great science of aviculture to make advances. It is due to 
you, to your hobby and to our energetic and resourceful editor 
that " Bird Notes " be not only a medium of publishing nesting 
result.-^ and giving plans of aviaries — both of which are to 
my mind extremely interesting and, I know, popular, but aho 
