Foreign Birds. 
3 
pei'iods, though artificial heat is not required. In this respect 
also, observation is called for and the birds inur.t be studied-- 
the thoughtful and observing- aviculturist is the successful one. 
With such .present failures become the stepping-stones ,to 
future success, for cause and effect become ultimately ap- 
p.arcnt. For instance: it is folly, nay, cruelty, to leave a l.tird 
out of doors that is out of tone at the commencement 
of the winter; to make myself quite clear I will state a case. 
A Magpie Mannikin in this instance (I have had the same occur 
with species of Sfiirnido) and Turdida;, but not with Tanagcrs 
so far, had already been out of doors for three years, 
but in the Octolier of the fourth year, it was picked up 
in a weak condition, it was revived and put with other 
birds in an indoor flight, and as it was not thoroughly 
fit again till early Decemlier, it was kept indoors for that win- 
ter, though the birdroom was an unhealed one. It was put out 
in the following spring and then left out altogether again and 
had been in my possession nearly nine years when it died. 
In describing the various species, I will indicate such species 
as have been successfully kept out of doors, either in my 
own aviaries, or of cases which have come under my own 
observation in other aviaries — only using, such instances where 
the bird's have been in their owner's possession two or more 
years. 
Choo.sing Your Birds: A healthy bird is of more im- 
portance than an unhealthy one in good feather, thus when 
making a purchase, do not let excellence of plumage be the 
sole gui{le; choose an alert perky bird, with, a clear eye, handle 
it and - see that it has not been wasting away — in such cases 
the breast bone is only covered with a little skin, and ap- 
pears to have a very sharp (knife) edge; reject such at once, 
however fine and sleek its plumage may be, nevertheless 
with all one's care some annoying and expensive los es are un- 
avoidable with newly imported specimens, yet once the Tmia- 
grinrr. have got over the critical period of the first few weeks 
in this country, the majority of them are fairly long-lived 
birds. 
With this, somewhat lengthy digression, which mem- 
bers' queries have called forth, I will now proceed with the 
genera of this sub -family. 
