Dr. M. Amsler—Labour Saving in the Aviary 327


a week old in, had only the one opening. With luck next year I shall

make a point of examining the nest after the young leave.


Of course, do not go away with the idea that I look into nests daily !

It was because of my urgent call that I had to find out, so as to write

everything down re feeding, doling out new feathers, etc., etc., for my

good husband to carry on. There is no doubt the parents had killed

the young, as they went to nest again near the outside of the bush,

and heavy rains at that time spoilt it. I think I have said all.



LABOUR SAVING IN THE AVIARY


By Dr. M. Amsler, M.B., F.Z.S.


When going the rounds of other people’s aviaries I have often

been struck by the fact that the average aviculturist is a most unprac¬

tical person—or is it that he is so interested in and devoted to his

birds that he never thinks of himself ?


It is the rarest thing to come across a gadget or any form of labour-

saving device which one goes home and copies.


If you can spare me the space in your columns I should like to

mention just a few of these which may come in useful to others, and

incidentally save much time in the daily routine.


One often sees bird-keepers going backwards and forwards—first

for the mealworms, next perhaps for some fresh water, and then

they find they have forgotten the spray millet. All this va et vient

disturbs the birds and means a lot of unnecessary opening and shutting

of doors, quite apart from time wasted. I have for years used a very

simple little affair on the principle of the drawing-room cake tray—-

it consists of two shallow boxes—one stands on the ground and by

means of battens nailed at the ends the upper box stands about

18 inches higher and has a round wooden handle nailed across the

top, by which the whole contrivance is carried about. The handle

for convenience in carrying, should not be more than 2 feet from

the ground level. On the top floor I carry canary, Indian, and white

millet in “ Bath-Oliver ” biscuit tins, there is also room for the meal¬

worms, the soft food, and one or two small boxes of delicacies such

as niger, hemp, maw seed, etc.



