204 
Pleasures of Aviculture. 
Also " in the picture " were the Indian ( Ireen-winged 
Doves and beautiful creatures tliey are too, but as silly 
(according" to human view) as most of their tribe — this particular 
pair lay eggs, which they persist in laying- on the ground in the 
aviary shelter, for other birds to smash or eat — in only one 
instance have they succeeded in hatching out, and the young 
scjuab made its appearance at the end of last October, Init they 
failed to rear it. The aviary abounds in suitable sites too 
providing botli security and privacy. They are lovely creatures 
when seen in the sunlight, their refulgent wings passing" from 
the richest of deep grass-greens, through golden-bronze to 
greenish coppery-bronze according to the angle in which the 
light strikes it. I admired their beauty and anathematised their 
stupidity. 
Another striking bird is my \"irginian Cardinal, who for 
the span of over seventeen years has lived with the late 
Tinniswood Miller and myself — yet he shows no signs of senility 
whatever; his legs and feet would do credit to a young bird, 
and the deep rich scarlet plumage is as tight and silky as could be 
c'csired. He too favoured mc witli his song before appearing 
in person and when thus favouring me. at first only a sort of 
half view tb:"ough a leafy screen, making a grand contrast of 
scarlet and green. He apparently attitudinises before one 
on a branch, indulges in a flight and repeats the ^lerformance 
•finally settling down in absolute pose, apparently oblivious to 
all. yet. for all that very alert. Mephistophelian his appearance, 
amialjle his character, strikingly handsome--" handsome is that 
handsome does." During the more than twelve years he 
has lived with me. his only weakness having been that z'ery 
occasionally he fancied the egg of some other bird for breakfast. 
Then my Cherry b^inch shows herself amid the front 
foliage of the privet bush; she lost her lord and master in that 
severe frost of mid-June, the only victim of the fell destroyer 
who had spent the previous winter out of doors — all the other 
victims having wintered in warm quarters. The Cherry Finch 
is a modest and retiring bird, which only favours one with 
occasional and very short intervals in which to admire their 
beauty. Both last year and this they nested and laid, but never 
hatched out any young, though their eggs were mostly fertile. 
