NATURAL HISTORY NOTES 
229 
Mannikins. — I notice “A Selbornian” in “Our Aviary,” speaks of llie 
mannikins as being very disappointing. The majority of so-called aviaries are 
simply moderate-sized cages, and under such conditions they are dull beyond 
description, African, Indian, and Australian varieties alike. But let “Selbornian” 
put up a garden aviary (constructed much as an ordinary fowl run) consisting of 
a small shed and good-sized open flight, covered in with half-inch mesh wire 
netting, and containing a few conifers or bushes. It must be sheltered on the north 
and east. Under such conditions, instead of being dull and listless, the mannikins 
will charm him with their vivacity and entertaining ways ; he will soon learn 
their love songs, angry notes, their quaint courting dances and numberless 
amusing antics and habits, and in addition some of the species will nest, lay, 
incubate and rear their progeny ; while others will only nest and lay. Under 
such semi-natural conditions their life-histories will be practically open to him, 
ennui vi\W be unknown, the birds happy,, contented and healthy, passing away 
mostly of old age. All the Munias (mannikins) in such an aviary may be left 
out of doors all the year round ; thus giving continued pleasure to him, such as 
can never be obtained from our feathered pets kept in the confined limits of the 
largest drawing room aviary, or rather cage. 
6, Rylett Crescent, Shepherd' s Bush, IV. Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S. 
November 16, 1900. 
Terns. — I regret to inform readers of Nature Notes that the colony of 
terns which have for many years bred on the Scilly Islands are rapidly leaving 
them, on account, I believe, of the persecution they receive from egg hunters, who 
take every egg they can find. The colony was composed chiefly of Arctic Terns, 
but there were a few Common Tern.s. 
Penzance. Arthur W. IIext Harvey. 
Mimicry in Starlings. — A month or two ago there was some corre- 
spondence on this subject, in which, as I had not then noticed much about it, I 
did not join. Last week I heard a starling imitate a coot so well that it deceived 
me, and I was looking' about for the bird when I espied the mimic seated on 
.some telegraph wires. Since then I have heard a starling mimic a swallow and 
a sparrow, the imitation in both cases being marvellously accurate. 
Penzance. Arthur W. IIext Harvey. 
The Plague of Blackbirds. — What Mr. W. B. Gerish says of birds and 
fruit is unquestionably true. I have a hedge of blackberries on one side of my 
ground and one of raspberries on another, and all this summer I have had no 
interference with the fruit, though there is no other in the immediate vicinity, and 
we have many blackbirds and thrushes which we encourage in every way. But I 
have on the grounds vessels of water kept always supplied, to which birds and 
.squirrels may come to quench their thirst. I am certain that none of the berries 
have been taken. Winter fruits are often eaten only for the seeds in them, but 
the pulp of raspberries is evidently no attraction to the birds except for the juice. 
The same holds good for squirrels. Give them water in convenient places and 
they will not take the trouble to get at the sap of the pine trees. Many squirrels 
visit our wood, where are trees of many kinds, but not a twig has been touched 
since I began to lure the squirrels to visit us. If the great Scotch lairds who 
complain of the squirrels for scotching their trees would provide that a vessel of 
water was kept always accessible to them in the plantation, there would be no 
harm done to the trees (though to tell the truth, I have never found any done), 
and it would cost them less than shooting off the sauirrels. 
Deepdene, Frimlcy Green, Szirrey. W. J. Stili.m.vx. 
The Cruelty of Nature. — When I took possession of my present home in 
a woodland, I put out many nesting boxes for the birds. L.ast spring, when 
nesting was going on, I .saw a starling and a small bird (I think a tit) fighting at 
the entrance to one of the boxes, and saw the starling driven away. For some 
time I watched the box to see how the brood went on, but I never saw a bird at 
it again. In the autumn I took it down to enlarge the opening for squirrels, and 
I found it nearly filled with moss, bits of cord, rags, &c., &c., and nearly at the 
