OUR AVIARY 
191 
large mirror. But no sooner were they promoted to the aviary 
than; “ Baloo’s ” sterling qualities made themselves felt, for, 
though he rarely used his power, he was the only one who could 
master “ Jim,” and if he saw him tyrannising too much over the 
smaller birds, “ Baloo ” put a stop to it in a summary way. 
Sad to relate, poor “Baloo” died a sudden and mysterious 
death, owing, it was supposed, to eating coloured moss. His 
place was filled by another German bullfinch called “ Kaiser.” 
In character, however, he proved to be a sad contrast to his 
predecessor : his autocratic, not to say domineering, nature soon 
showed itself, and when he was transferred to another home 
where he would have more space and open air, his loss was not 
greatly felt. 
The family of canaries, meantime, had been on the increase. 
After persistent efforts to pluck feathers from the breasts of the 
other birds, “ Mrs. Jim ” was at length rewarded with a basket 
nest and material to fill it. To tell the truth we were not 
anxious to undertake the responsibility of breeding, having heard 
that it was a difficult and precarious task. As it happened, 
however, nothing could have been simpler, and beyond pro- 
viding them with egg-food, they required no special attention. 
“ Mrs. Jim,” after laying a quantity of eggs, brought out 
two birds, “Joe,” and “ Jub-jub” (Johansen and Jubilee). Con- 
trary to our expectations, Jim proved a devoted mate and father, 
feeding “ Mrs. Jim ” and the young ones, and watching over the 
nest with untiring devotion. The other birds did not interfere 
in any way with the nesting arrangements, and the two young 
ones grew up into fine healthy birds. When they, in their turn, 
were about a year old, it was supposed from their nascent trills 
and attempts at song that they were both cock birds, and a 
mate was accordingly provided for them, “ Nan,” or “ Nansen,” 
a pale yellow variety. When eventually “ Joe ” and “Jub-jub ” 
each turned out to be hens, the matrimonial arrangements of the 
aviary were thrown into serious disorder. Things were righted 
finally by “ Nan ” being exchanged for a Hartz mountain bird, 
remarkable for its sweet song. “Joe” and “Jub-jub” have 
both reared large families, which have gone to swell the proceeds 
of various local bazaars. 
Owing to the divisions of the aviary, we have sometimes had 
as many as three nests at once, while from the fact of having 
been brought up more or less in public, the young birds are 
never oppressed by the least shyness. It is found necessary to 
dispose of them as soon as they are able to look after them- 
selves, as they tyrannise unmercifully over their grandfather. 
“Jim” is no longer as young as he once was, though he still 
holds his own as the handsomest of the canaries. “ Mrs. Jim ” 
is g;rowing old and faded, but she still persists in sitting every 
spring. “Joe” and “Jub-jub” are still vigorous and lusty, 
while the Africans continue to lead an isolated and self-satisfied 
existence at the top of the cage. 
.V Selborniax. 
