8 
The Grey Parrot. 
and partially red feathers on his shoulders and a solitary red 
feather on his left thigh. Two or three are all red, one red with 
a white, and the others red with grey tips. His left wing was 
evidently damaged when cai)tured ; he has always been minus two 
or three of the primaries in this wing, which renders him unable 
to fly. 
Since writing the above some eighteen months ago, I have cured 
him of his plucking habits. Evidently his food was too 
heating, as since I got him to eat white millet he has ceased this 
bad habit altogether. I never thought before that canary seed 
could be heating. His food now consists of equal parts canary 
and white millet, with al)out eight sunflower seeds daily ; fruit 
and nuts occasionally. His plumage now being practically perfect. 
I can now see the number of light feathers he possesses. He has 
about a dozen very pale pink, nearly white ones on each shoulder, 
thi'ee on his breast, two or three on his abdomen, and two on 
the right thigh. 
A Northern Aviary. 
By H. V. Johnson. 
This aviary was erected in my spare time and completed 
in May, 1908. So you will see I am only a novice, and the fol- 
lowing description of my aviary and birds is intended chiefly for 
beginners. 
Sleeping Compartment, Fittings and Foods. — Built 
on a brick base, walls and gable ends lined with boarding and 
distempered white, floor tiled ; there are hot water pipes in same, 
which up to the present have not been used. Roof boarded and 
covered with felt. Height to i-idge 9ft. Gin., height to eaves 5ft., 
3in., 6ft. Oin. Nesting receptacles comprise straw hats, travelling 
cages, Hartz canary cages and various types of wood boxes. Seed 
is kept in separate boxes and comprise the following kinds, Indian 
and white millet, canary seed, mixed wild seed ; sunflower, whole 
oats, and " Paddy " rice mixed together ; grit, cuttle-fish bone, old 
mortar, rock salt, crushed oyster and egg shells being always 
about. For the soft-bills, &c., there is a pan of soft food, ripe 
fruit of various kinds is given daily ; mealworms, spiders, &c., 
are given on alternate days. So to the best of my ability I give 
everything that is necessary. 
