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Bernard C. Thomasset—Birds in a Dwelling-room



sometimes when one of the birds is pulling a grass stem, endeavouring

to loosen it, it will suddenly remain motionless, as though in deep

contemplation, for several minutes at a time. Doubtless this is due

to some natural instinct which urges them to remain stationary when

disturbed by an enemy in their native forests. Standing still amidst

vegetation a Pitta is well-nigh invisible, as I found out some little

time ago when the hen was frightened during a period of liberty in

the bird-room. She flew straight downstairs through the open door

and away over the trees, and settled in the grass in the middle of the

orchard. Although I knew the exact spot where the bird alighted

and made a diligent search for about half an hour, it remained

invisible. Just as I had almost abandoned the search it took wing

from almost under my feet and sailed off, looking like a huge, brilliant

butterfly, into the grounds of a neighbouring house. After an extensive

search we found her, but she took flight again, circled round, made

a bee-line for the bird-room door, flew straight in through the open

door, upstairs, and into her aviary. This was the first time she had

ever been out !



BIRDS IN A DWELLING-ROOM


By Bernard C. Thomasset


My aviaries are unheated and I have no bird-room, so that each

winter a certain number of birds which cannot stand much cold have

to pass the winter in my sitting-room.


We are told that an ordinary dwelling-room heated by an open

fire-place is unsuitable for wintering birds on account of the fluctuations

of temperature. During the day the room may be fairly warm, but

at night it is sure to be chilly.


This, no doubt, is true ; but, in spite of it, I have found that my

birds do particularly well under such conditions.


It is true that birds are bad for a sitting-room. Cages are bulky

and unsightly, and their inmates scatter seed and sand, and one’s

friends and neighbours consider one eccentric, but a sitting-room

does not appear to be bad for birds.



