A Retrospect. 
8i 
Since I aclupted this metliod niy losses from newly- 
imported birds have greatly decreased, and 1 no longer exi)eri- 
ence that anxious moment of counting- the birds in the aviary 
daily, to see if there are any or l^ow many deaths. 
This aviary, Jofl. x loft., uas doubled to Joft. x 20ft. very 
soon, and a few months later a much larger aviary took shape, 
one of its chief features being a full-sized nut tree, which 
certainly provided more insect life than all the other bushes put 
together. 
Finally the war came, and, except for a few old favourites, 
all the birds went. Five years of army Hfe — the last being three 
years in Salonica without leave — found me coming home, an4 
before 1 arrived the last of my favourites had died; so, here 1 am 
once again with a new start to make, and, having changed my 
residence, there are new aviaries to build; this latter is the worst 
feature, as, since my return, I have started poultry-farming (the 
Bar no longer sees me waiting for briefs) ,and there are poultry 
houses to make, wire netting to jHit up, and the hundred and one 
things to do; still my first aviary has been begun and my first 
birds bought. 
This time it is Blue Budgerigars, but as soon as I can 
manage another aviary, the finches will come into their own; 
even now I have a small consignment on its way from Africa, a 
quid pro quo for birds sent there in pre-war days. 
Enough for preface. Let me think back about the birds, 
which have at one time or the other inhabited my aviaries. A 
recent importation of Cuban birds brings them first to my mind, 
so Cuban Finches must come first. 
A pair of these birds ( riionipara canora) were generally 
to be found in my aviaries, and a more cheery, bright little bird 
it would be hard to find. Fie is ever in the foreground with his 
black face and bright yellow breast. Butler, in his book, calls 
it the Melodious Finch; goodness knows why, I don't, because it 
isn't anything out of the way in the song line. 
Its chief attraction in my e) es is the ease with which it can 
be bred; there is more in it than to take a pair of Cuban 
