52



Douglas Shedden—A New Idea in Bird Books



Finch and the Nun rarely raised their voices at all which he takes to

mean that the food supplied by the latter was more satisfying.


Mr. Reid applied for a breeding certificate for successfully rearing

St. Helena Waxbills and Mr. Bullock for breeding Double Bar Finches.

Mrs. Gr. Collins’ Stanley Parrakeets procured from the Avicultural

Society went to nest, laid five eggs, and reared five healthy youngsters.

Incubation lasted twenty-three days and the first young bird left the

nest a month after the first egg was laid, fully fledged and scarcely

distinguishable from the old hen. The eggs were laid on alternate days.

The usual parrot mixture was given supplemented by millet sprays

and seeding grasses.


Mr. Howlett bred the Black-headed Nun.


The Hon. Secretary reports that the membership is “ in a healthy

condition owing to the increased interest taken in aviculture We

can only hope that this satisfactory state of affairs will continue and

that we shall hear of still more breeding successes when the next Bulletin

is issued.



A NEW IDEA IN BIRD BOOKS


By Douglas Shedden


A fascinating adjutant to the bird-fancier’s hobby is the study

of wild birds. It is a subject which amply repays the watcher for

his patient hours. Birds, as every fancier knows, unlike many other

things, can never be dull or uninteresting ; there are always some

new peculiarities and habits to be noted.


Most people when starting bird watching, first procure a reliable

bird book, and before setting out to watch and study the birds them¬

selves, they proceed to con the main gist of the book off by heart.


A more novel form of bird book is that which you write yourself.

Buy a large blank book and fill it with your observations. By this

method you write your own book which is surely more interesting

and more accurate (in regard to your observations). You need not



