262 
Waxbills OS Avia)-y Birds. 
need not have occurred. There are certain points we should 
recognise in connection with this, viz : 
Only fit-looking birds should be released into the aviary- 
after a day's resting-up. 
A weakly, ill-conditioned bird, does not get all it needs in 
the midst of a crowd, it lacks the energy or inclination to 
push and assert itself in a strange community, and many 
such birds get hustled " West " under such conditions. 
They should have the opportunity to rest and feed up in 
a cage with no other occupants to disturb them, and 
remain there till in a reasonably fit condition — most of 
them do not need drugs of any kind, merely an undis- 
turbed period to recoup after the hardship of importation 
and the rail journey from the dealer. 
Now, just a few remarks as to aviary conditions — an 
aviary in which waxbills are kept should have a roomy, well- 
lighted, dry shelter attached to it, to whicn they can retire at 
will, with bunches of twigy branches, not merely for perching 
accommodation and cover, but also as nesting sites if they prefer 
to nest under cover. With this provision the condition of a 
wilderness-flight during the summer months is not of great 
importance, providing there are trees and shrubs for cover aivi 
nesting, and some hardy flowering plants to attract flies and 
other insects. It is during the period commencing November 
1st and ending ]\Iarch 31st, that the flight conditions assume 
importance. But even tnis does not involve much : First, all trees 
and bushes should be pruned and cut into shape; then all under- 
growth — i.e., grass, docks and other herbaceous weeds and 
plants should be closely mown, and finally a general clearing up 
and the lemoval of all leaves and decaying herbage, so that light 
and air can get everywhere and accomplish its purifying purpose. 
Neglect this and what have you? An overgrown wilderness, 
a dank, sour, death-dealing place during' the wet autumn months. 
But no thoughtful humane aviculturist would tolerate such 
conditions; nevertheless, there is often much cruelty for want 
of thoitght, and I have seen such aviaries ; aviaries in which the 
pruning knife had not been used for years, nor the ground 
herbage touched for a similar period — the greater part of the 
year's offal gets removed when the ground weeds are closely 
