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J. Delacour—American Aviculture



just as well, after being acclimatized, from what I have seen at some

amateurs. But South Californian breeders’ efforts have so far been

mostly directed toward the breeding of seed-eating birds. Large

numbers have been reared annually since a few years, and easily absorbed

locally. Numerous people have built aviaries in the Los Angeles

district, and surplus birds can be quickly disposed of. There are lots

of bird-shops and farms, some very large and well-fitted, with numerous

flights in their back gardens. The best are now “ Flower’s Tropical

Bird Farm ”, “ Bird Wonderland ”, “ Southern California Bird and Pet

Exchange They have a very good assortment of Budgerigars,

Canaries, Australian Finches, some African and Asiatic birds, many

Mexican birds, and also a few rarities of various origin, as well as

many Game birds, a few Waders, and Waterfowl. They usually have a

large flight-cage in front.


The prices of imported foreign birds are generally higher than

with us ; but Japanese, Filipino, and Australian birds are about

the same or cheaper. Mexican, Central American, Colombian, and

Venezuelan birds, rather cheap. Indian and, still more, African birds

are five or six times dearer than they are in Europe. Pheasants and

Waterfowl have more or less the same value. Among the smaller birds

bred in California, the rarer Parrakeets, Parrots, and Finches fetch

good prices ; but Lovebirds, Zebra, and other Common Finches are

very cheap, fetching about one-half of European prices only.


The Avicultural Society of America now have their headquarters

in Los Angeles, as it is the American city where the greatest number

of members live. It is also the seat of the California Game Breeders’

Association, and of the southern branch of the Cooper Ornithological

Club. These three societies most kindly entertained me at a dinner

attended by nearly a hundred ornithologists and aviculturists, whom

I was delighted to meet.


Nearly all South Californian aviaries are built of wood, with

substantial shelters, often as large as the flights themselves, but not

heated. There are no movable aviaries : they were found unnecessary

on account of the sandy soil and dry climate. They are usually disposed

in rows and blocks.


I have visited a number of aviculturists in or near Los Angeles,



