R. James—Aviary Management 323



first prolonged, the second two tones lower, which translated are

i Spring’s here


The Chickadee works hard for its little living all the year round.

With its small companions, the Nuthatch and the Creeper, they achieve

much. Being of an inquisitive turn of mind the Chickadee and its

friends examine minutely the crevices of trees where insects hide and

hibernate, and in company with the allied species (the Nuthatch and

Creeper) the total of insect eggs taken must be very considerable.

The intense cold sharpens the birds’ appetites and as their food is

very tiny everything points to their incalculable use to the farmer

and agriculturist. An examination of the Chickadee’s food shows

68 per cent insect, and 32 per cent vegetable. An analysis reveals

insect eggs, larvse, chrysalids, and small insects, small weed-seeds,

and wild fruit.


The bright-spirited and lively Chickadee is easily persuaded to

frequent the home grounds in winter and soon yields to coaxing to

alight on the finger and feed from the hand. Its gentle, inquisitive

nature assists its approach.


Chickadees nest in old stumps, holes of trees, and other well-

protected places. They line them with grasses, feathers, plant-down,

moss, felted-fur, and other soft materials.



AVIARY MANAGEMENT


By Bichard James


Whatever avicultural achievements may be attributed to Patricia R.

Cholmeley, the fancier mentioned must have experienced a most

enviable thrill with regard to the breeding and almost successful

rearing of the Black-crested Finch. A year ago this unique and amiable

bird was unknown to many of us. The breeding pair mentioned in the

article published in the October issue went to nest in an aviary con¬

taining a mixed collection of little birds. I wonder if many fanciers,

like myself, will wonder what species the mixed collection included.

“ To what extent can the species be mixed ? ” There is a question

that has not been sufficiently emphasized. The question is the theme of

this article. Many aviculturalists begin as sentimentalists, thinking



