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C. Scott-Hop kins—The Charm of Pheasant-keeping



difficult to catch up the active little beggars to remove them from their

parents’ wrath. On one occasion a couple of them slipped out of the

aviary door and spent most of the day high up in an acacia tree over¬

hanging their aviary. An all-wire canary cage baited with millet

sprays was put on top of the aviary with a piece of black thread

tied to the open door, and myself at the other end of the thread ; half

an hour’s patience and they were safely inside the cage.


At this time of the year one is anxiously making plans for the coming

season, and perhaps “ counting chickens The following possible

breeding pairs will go into their outdoor aviaries at the end of April:

Spreo Starlings, Black-throated Cardinals, Boyal Parrot Finches, Cuban

Finches, Greater St. Helenas, Aurora Finches, Bengalese, Cordon Bleus,

Spice Birds, White Java Sparrows, Chestnut-breasted Finches, Saffron

Finches, and several pairs of Mannikins. Already outside are six pairs

of Black-cheek Lovebirds, a pair of Pekin Robins, and the Silver

Pheasants. The Black-cheeks have taken the place of Budgerigars

as “ seed providers ”, and have bred regularly and profitably for the

last seven seasons, rearing in all nearly one hundred youngsters.


The Pekin Robins, though a true pair, have never nested in the six

years they have been in the same outdoor aviary ; they may possibly

have laid and eaten the eggs. Failures and disappointments are the lot

of every aviculturist, but the few successes more than compensate as

Captain Barclay will find out if he perseveres, as I hope he will. By

the way, my old Turtle Dove is still going strong at the age of 29 !



THE CHARM OF PHEASANT-KEEPING


By C. Scott-Hopkins


I have the pleasure of knowing Miss Chawner and I know that she

has a soft place in her heart for fancy Pheasants. So I am hoping she

will be able to find space in the Avicultural Magazine for the article

on “ Ornamental Pheasants ”. It is very gratifying to see the increased

interest that is being taken in fancy Pheasants. I have often wondered

why more people do not keep these lovely birds. I have kept them for



