i8o 
My Latest A-viarics, etc. 
enabling' the birds to be in the open and yet get some protection 
during inclement weather. 
The flight is roomy and naturally planted, and is 7 feel 
high, at the sides and front end, rising to 10 feet in the centre. 
The main width is _'5 feet, but against the shelter, for a depth of 
twelve feet, the width is over 30 feet {vide Ground I'lanj. 
The whole of the framing standards (external and 
internal) have climbers planted at their bases, viz : rambler roses 
Forsythia, weigela, honeysuckle, Polygonum, convolvulus, and 
clematis. The shrubs consist of cupressus (5), euonymus, 
bamboo, spruce lir, Portugal laurel, small-leaved berberis, 
golden and evergreen privet, with a standard ash in the centre 
of the flight. Most of the shrubs were six feet and over (bushy 
in proportion) when planted, so as to afford innnediate cover. 
The herbage consists of coarse grasses, cereals, iris, docks, 
willow-herb, dandelion, wild parsley, marguerites, perennial 
asters, etc., beneath which there are small patches of bare 
ground all over the flight, whereon the birds can forage for 
insects. The general arrangement is indicated on Ground Plan. 
The floors of the shelters are concrete, and all round the 
flight corrugated iron sheets are let into the ground to a depth 
of two feet, and so far the rats have been kept out. 
The occupants are a very mixed war-time lot, with very 
many odd birds, and as near as 1 can call them to mind are as 
follows : 
3 Green-wing- Doves (Chalccptcra iiiJiai). 19, -d- 
1 Red-Minnitain Dove ( G cotrygoii inoiitana) . 
1 Cape Dove (Ociia capciisis) y. 
1 pair Grey-winged Ouzels (Mcritla boiitboul). 
I pair Crimson l''inches (Ncoch 'mta pliacluiij. 
I Cherry Finch ( Aiilcniosync niodcsta) $. 
1 i^ckin Rohiii { Liollirix littetts) q. 
1 Virginian Canhnal (Canliiialis ciirdiiiulis) J. Tliis bird is 17 years old. 
very rich colour, and showing no signs of age — is often mistaken for a 
young bird. 
