i^nS Species Capahlc of W inicring Out of Doors. 
A List of Species Capable of Wintering Out of 
Doors. 
liv Dr. M. Amslkr. 
Tln' I'MiiDi- lias aslccil nif for a list of l)ir<ls which 1 have^ 
wintered out of doors. It would liave t;dven me iniicii h-ss time 
to have given a list of th()se siiecies, wliich 1 have failed to Iveep 
in the open the wliole year round witliout iieat. 
Si.x years of aviculture have cnnviiiced me that open air 
treatment is conducive to the best hret'diiig residts, even if souje 
of tlie less fit do go under. 
Birds whicli have been kept in a healed aviai'y oi' cage foj- 
three or four months ai'e not n"irl>' so til \)y liie spring, as those 
which have braved the elements during tlif past winter; the 
latter are almost alwa\s in l)etter plumage, ;nnl also in better 
condition having i)resumably iiad iiKU'e exercise. 
The more pampered bird may be in more forward breeding 
condition, but the cold spiini; winds often cause some disaster, 
such as pneumonia or egg-binding. 
On tlie other h iml the birds which ha\'e had more Spartan 
tretitment, although p(issibl\' a little later in their breeding o|)era- 
tions, will s.^'.arcely notice changes of tem[)eraturc and will merelv 
pt-use in their woi'k instead of dying. 
These remarics apply with s|)ecial force (o Gouldian and 
other Orassfinches, which will attempt to nest as eaidy as January, 
if kept warm, with (in \ny experience) constantly disappointing 
results. Parrot-tinches are an exception to this rule, many broods 
having been reared in Januarv and FebrutU'y. In such cases, 
however, it is necessary to supply lu'tificial light at (1 ii.m. so as to 
prolong the |)arenls' feeding Inun'S. 
Another point is this : birds prevented from breeding by 
withholding nesiiiiL; reci'ptacles ami materials in earl\' spring, will 
often pass the wliole summer in idleness and start iiestin.L; in late 
autumn, when aLtain results ai'e seldom satisftictoi'y. 
In estimating the results of (Uildoor wilder treatment one 
must remember that deaths must be more fre(pient at this season, 
whether one keeps Sparrows or Sitiibirds : personally 1 cannot 
attribute more than three or four deaths directly to cold, and even 
in these cases I think that the Thames mists did more harm than 
the actual cold. At the same time, it must not be Ihought that 
