John Wilcock—Some Aims and Ideals in Aviculture



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diminution in vitality and fertility, we are no whit better than the

generation which has passed without leaving us, for example, a sound

stock of aviary-bred Turquoisines, which they apparently might

have done. Aviculturists of the stamp of the late Miss Alderson, who

could concentrate on her Foreign Doves and find it enthralling, seem

singularly rare nowadays. Now that it would appear that we are

to be vouchsafed by Nature another opportunity with the Neophema

it is to be hoped that the lesson has been taken to heart. Fortunately

a start is being made by that thorough and experienced aviculturist,

Mr. Harvey, of Adelaide, and by others. Surely there ought to be as

much pleasure and credit to be derived from attempting to achieve,

say, fourth generation aviary-bred birds which are as virile and prolific

as their wild-caught ancestors, as in getting a somewhat puny youngster

from the nest for the first time, without knowing just exactly how it

happened. And would it require much more self-discipline, to adopt

and stick to (chiefly) a certain number of species with this end in

view, than is required of people who take up other types of livestock,

horses, dogs, poultry, etc., and do their utmost to improve the breed

they have adopted, instead of squandering their efforts over a wide

field as the whim takes them ? As to the number of species which could

be taken up on these lines, this would of course vary with individuals,

according to the extent to which circumstances permitted them to

indulge their avicultural activities. I think, however, we are morally

compelled to view our hobby in this light and, as I see it, it is going to

be more necessary in the future than it has been in the past.


One little bird I have kept and bred for several years now, enjoy

keeping as much as ever, and shall enjoy attempting to bring near to

domestication, even if I fail, is the little Chinese Painted Quail.

I purchased my first pair in 1928, and the little hen soon laid, but would

not sit. This I discovered was almost usual, but I also learnt that

the father “ mothered ” the chicks. After attempting, with relatively

unsatisfactory results, to use a good modern incubator which was

“ set ” with hens eggs, I got a steady broody bantam and for several

years always succeeded in getting off a brood by this means, generally

having a few broken eggs, or chicks crushed when hatched, although

I was up betimes on the morning the chicks were due to hatch, to get



