The Ncsfinrj of Pclnn Tlohbif!. 
71 
the nest. Big brother was dancing up and down in front of 
baby, alternately ofTering a mealworm and then snatehing it 
away out of reach. Pekin immediately charged, knocked the 
oflender o!V hi.s perch, and cha.sod him round the aviary with 
scolding and furious snapping, then returned to feed and make 
much of baby. He was also very thoughtful for hi.-; wife, and 
visited her frequently while she sat on the nest, though he 
never fed her. 
Both birds are very tame and have no objection to 
being watched. Their diet consists of bread and milk, ripe 
banana and strawberries, cucumber, ants' eggs, and wasp grubs 
in the comb (they kill wasps quite as easily as they do flies). 
They also visit the seed pans and make their selection. 
Swee. cake either soaked or dry is appreciated and so is curd. 
They are out in all weathers but generally sleep in the shelter. 
I do not think it would be wise, in a small place like mine, 
to keep the young ones after they have 'grown up, there would 
probably be friction between them and their parents. T found 
no difliculty in disposing of them, and I am sure the old 
birds are happier by themselves. 
Besides attending to their own broods the Pekins took 
a neighbourly interest in a nestful of young Bullfmches on the 
opposite side of the aviary, and would even feed them when 
they could get at them, which was not always appreciated by 
the Bullfinch parents, who were fully competent to manage 
their own affairs. 
Portable and other Out-door Bird Cages. 
By Miss C. W. Thoebukn. 
I attended my first meeting of the F.B.O. at the Zoo, 
in July, 1911, when our small party was conducted through 
the various Foreign Bird Aviaries by our Editor, Air. Wesley 
T. Page, who kindly kept up a running commentary on the 
birds themselves in a most patient and interesting manner. 
In the course of conversation, Mr. Page, seeing some 
photographs I had with me of my own birds and cages, asked 
me for the use of them for publication in B.N., Avith a few 
notes. 
I must confess at the outset I have only had till the 
