A. P. Shearing—A Few Breeding Notes from Foxiuarren 197


the extra cost. Mice and parasites will not have anything to do with

the creosoted sawdust.


If you are troubled with mice, a cheap and efficient stand for seed

hoppers may be made by using 4 or 6 in. crockery pipes (Fig. 2)

These pipes have one end enlarged to fit over the small end of another

pipe. This serves as a base on which it can stand. A wood tray to carry

the hoppers and catch the husks may be arranged to rest on the top.

A convenient method of fixing this is to procure a round tin can which

just fits inside the pipe. This is then screwed to the bottom of the tray,

and will be found quite steady when in position inside the pipe. It

also has the advantage of being easily removed.


If one is in the habit of electrically lighting their aviary on winter

nights, there is the difficulty of getting all the birds on to their perches

before the light is turned out. One is kept standing hand on switch ;

just as all is ready one bird hops on to the wire division or some such

foolish place. It is no sooner on a perch when another does likewise—

it is a little wearing on one’s patience. This can be avoided if you have

two lampholders and switches, in one holder is an ordinary lamp and

in the other a Neon lamp. These lamps give a red glow sufficient for

the birds to find their way to their roosting places, and they may be

left on all night as they consume so very little current.



A FEW BREEDING NOTES FROM FOXWARREN

UP TO ioth MAY* 1933


By A. P. Shearing


As this is my first venture at penning a few notes for the magazine

perhaps a short account of the breeding results to date may be of

interest to members.


Chinese Blackbird ( Turdus mandarinus). —This pair of birds have

been given an aviary to themselves and are at present incubating

four eggs.


Crowned Starling ( Galeopsar salvadorii). —There are two pairs

of these this ’year and the old pair have already built and laid the



