C oyrcspoiidciicc . 
try a nightingale, always .suppo^inij' they have the leisure to look after it 
themselves. 
Portniant Sq., Decemher i6, 1917. (^tWEXDOLEX P.OURKE. 

AVICULTURE IX THE U.S.A. 
Sir. — One of your far-a\va\' members wonders if a letter from " over 
here " would be welcomed by the h'ditor, now that .-.o many of the older and 
experienced writers have sterner duties to attend to. Aviculture as 
practised in England does not exist in this country. We have no large- private 
aviaries, no magazines, and no shows to speak of. Some people keep a bird 
or two, generally a canary. Some more than that, but those having twenty 
or over can he nimibered. 
This year our show is off. War material has to be shipped and express 
companies are not guaranteeing the arrival of poultry at the exhibition, so 
the birds, cats and cavies, which are exhibited at the same time and jdace 
are knocked out. Xeverthcless, our little display each year produced three 
hundred birds on the shelves, many roller collections and flight cages for 
exhibition. Ribbons were awarded in each class and trophies for the best 
bird and other specials. Breeding as you can imagine is not a thriving 
industr}-, not kept largely or out of doors in natural surroundings, only Zebra, 
Mina, Javas, Grass Parakeets, Japanese Nuns and the like are brought up in 
the bird room. 
My own birds, sadly depleted now that the war has stopped importa- 
tions, live in cages 6ft. x 6ft. x 4ft. and somewhat similar measurements, 
having twigs, nesting Iioxes, coco-nut husks, and bathing water all the time. 
It was in the above cage, with forty birds therein, that a Yellow Grass 
Parrakeet was reared by papa, the shock of its birth having killed mamma. 
How he did it with Rosellas, Love Birds, Weavers, and other inquisitive 
species, and in such a crowded " tenement " has always mystified me. The 
only help father received was to have all the other birds, principally Japanese 
Robins, brushed away from six mealworms which were given every morning. 
This was the only time that father was ever tame. He can't be caught now 
without a net and a fight. January and February, with snow outside and cold, 
was the time it happened. 
The little Finches in another cage lay fresh eggs all the time, but no 
one sits on same and the next party builds a nest on top until the box is full ; 
house-cleaning is practised by me. 
The English aviaries must be w'onderful. The pictures and lists of 
breeding results tell the story. I hope to see them some day. 
The r' -)ve does not apply to the Zoological Parks, but even here all 
the cities I '.nve visited including Canada, nevei- had any of the smaller birds 
except New York. The display at the Bronx Park is complete and tastefully 
shown. 
My birds are always exhibited under, "KblXWOOD KOLLECTIOX." 
New York City, Dec. 6, 1917. K. WOODWARD. 
