Waxbills as Aviary H'li'ds. 
263 
mown and removed; and the flight, even amid winter's dankness, 
a healthy place for the birds to exercise in. 
We must recognise that winter mortality does not arise 
from periods of hard frost; it is during the thaws and cold rains 
that the death roll grows — yet it need not go beyond the normal, 
if reasonable precautions be taken. 
1 had better interpose here, and say that, too often when 
an aviary is built, the shelter receives but little consideration, 
and practically the whole attention and care and thought is 
given to the flight — one too often sees a huge flight, with a 
shelter shed about 8ft. x 6ft., with an apology for a window of 
a square of glass about a foot square! This is all wrong. 
The shelter is the more important part, and the flight, however 
grand and commodius, is practically useless without a good 
shelter, or useful only as a summer habitation. 
Then the question presents itself as to what constitutes a 
good shelter. My experience teaches me that the main 
essentials are : 
It must be roomy. 
As well lighted as a living-room. 
Rain and wind proof — i.e. dry and free from draught. 
The avicultui-ist must remember that abnormal weather- 
conditions do arise and that not infrequently; if these be provided 
for, the normal will look after itself — therefore, I unhesitatingly 
say that, a shelter, which does not provide accommodation for 
the whole of the birds to be shut up therein, for two or three 
weeks on stretch if need be, is a bad one and altogether inade- 
quate for the birds' needs. 
Now, after thus clearing the way we may consider the 
birds. 
Waxbills are charming creatures in an aviary, and I 
know no more delightful picture to gaze upon, than a series of 
pairs of, say — Cordon Bleus; Avadavats; Grey, urange-cheek. 
Gold-breasted, Blue-breasted, Green, and Violet-eared Waxbills 
— disporting themselves amid the foliage of a wilderness 
aviary, such as is here illustrated. 
In this flight I have, when leisure permitted, watched the 
birds untiringly for longish periods, and there was always 
