The Endurance of Birds. 
log 
discriminate between those who are giving actual experiences, 
and those who are merely quoting a general reputation of any 
given species. 
With tlie most careful selection trouble may follow; thus 
the occui)ants of any given aviary must be kept under close 
observation, especially at the commencement of and during the 
breeding season; for, during this period the demeanour of indi- 
vidual pairs changes considerably, the erstwhile peaceful be- 
come pugnacious and even murderous. However, things soon 
find a level, and though the persistent bully must be removed, at 
the same time natural and reasonable contention must not be 
mistaken for unforgivable pugnacity. 
Proper discrimination upon these and similar points often 
means the difference between failure and success — the tyro too, 
must use a similar care when reading of others' experiences - 
locality, size and furnishing of the aviary, have a large bearing 
upon the results obtained — thus the experience given stands 
upon such conditions, and a similar result may not be achieved 
if these be seriously departed from. Thus if a given species be 
described as pugnacious, this can only be taken as being their 
demeanour under the conditions given which form (or should do 
so) the context of piignaciuus or amiable as the case may be. 
My meaning should be clear, without further explanation, but 
the correspondence section of our journal is open for the dis- 
cussion of such topics. Continuous alertness has checked many 
a threatened disaster. 
The dietary at this period should be the usual seeds, 
insectile mixture, ripe fruit and live insects — the latter is import- 
ant, for upon its judicious supply success or failure with many 
species depends. 
A roomy aviary, naturally planted and arranged, will 
make success more probable, as under such conditions the birds 
capture a certain amount of live-food; and also obtain that 
exercise, which is almost indispensable to full breeding fitness. 
To enlarge further would be to go outside the scope of 
this paper; other details will be given when dealing with the 
separate species. 
I had better remind new readers that this serial com- 
