Alfred Ezra—-The Aviaries of an Indian Bird Lover 99


In conclusion, I hope these notes will prove useful, and help to bring

success to the many Gouldian admirers—and they are many.


N.B.—After writing the above notes, the 19 months old bird

mentioned went in the moult and died suddenly. The P.M. said :

“ Death due to exposure ”—-probably the result of the severe weather

at the time.


It appears significant that of the deaths mentioned in four years,

only one bird was of my own breeding.



THE AVIARIES OF AN INDIAN BIRD LOVER


By Alfred Ezra, O.B.E.


Many of our readers know that our fellow member, Dr. Satya

Churn Law, is the happy possessor of large aviaries about ten miles

from Calcutta, where the most difficult Indian insectivorous birds,

as well as many foreign species are kept in most perfect condition,

and very often bred.


Last winter, I took the opportunity, when on a visit to Calcutta,

to visit these fine aviaries twice, spending two whole mornings with

Dr. Law.


Dr. Law is not only a keen and able aviculturist, he is also an

excellent ornithologist, botanist, and naturalist in general, all his work

being carried out in a thoroughly scientific way. Among his many

degrees and qualifications, he is an Honorary Correspondent of the

Zoological Survey of India, and in this capacity, has completely

revised, since 1926, the collection of bird skins in the Indian Museum,

at the same time collecting numerous species and valuable data on

several expeditions in different parts of India. Eor a very long time

Dr. Law has been particularly interested in solving the difficult

problems of feeding and housing delicate birds under tropical conditions.

All the year round, the most delicate birds are given live ant cocoons,

grasshoppers, larvae and pupae of Oecophylla smaragdina, while the staple

diet of all birds is “ suttoo ” (grain meal). The aviaries consist of small

inside shelters and large flights, all covered with bamboo matting,

which protects the birds from the sun as well as from Kites and Crows.



