34 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST, 
Masked Wood Swallow. Spinebill. 
Dusky Wood Swallow. New Holland Honey-eater. 
White-backed Magpie. White-cheeked Honey-eat- 
Black-throated Butcher er, ‘‘White Whiskers.’’ 
Bird. Spiny-cheeked Honey- 
Crested Shrike Tit. eater. 
Rufous-breasted Whistler. Yellow-throated Friar- 
Yellow Robin. bird. 
Mistletoe Bird. Satin Bower-bird. 
White-naped Honey-eater Regent-bird. 
or Black Cap. Cat-bird. 
Blood-bird. 
Many of the birds in the foregoing list are naturally 
shy in the extreme, and the cbserver who walks in Mr. 
Heumann’s roomy ayiaries will perhaps find himself puz- 
zling over three things: (1) How it was possible to capture 
such birds; (2) How they are sod readily tamed; and (3) 
How is it possible to satisfactorily feed, while in a state 
of captivity, such tender, wild things. Such birds as the 
glorious little Blood-bird, or Sanguineous Heney Hater, the 
dainty little Mistletoe-bird and the handsome Crested 
Shrike-Tit would appear to be particularly difficult to 
catch, as well as to maintain alive after capture. These, 
and nearly all the others, are caught with bird-lime in 
their native haunts, usually at feeding or drinking-places, 
frequently after many hours of patient search and wait- 
ing. It is in the pursuit of such birds, that the finest in- 
stincts of the bush-naturalist are developed, and where ob- 
servations of habits are made that would never otherwise 
be recorded. As far as the taming process is concerned, I 
can personally testify in a small way, to what Mr. Heu- 
mann, and other keepers of our wild birds have found, that 
when treated in an attentive and effectionate manner, while 
suitably housed, they become quite tame very rapidly in- 
deed. In the present case, Mr. Heumann has taught his 
feathered pets to love him, and it is a pretty sight, indeed, 
to see typical wild bush-birds, like the Wood Swallows and 
Whistlers (Thickheads) coming, when called, and perch- 
ing on their friend’s head, or flying past and swooping 
down to take the proffered grub or crumb. 
One often hears it said that our Australian birds can- 
not be kept satisfactorily in captivity. The imposing list of 
“‘soft-billed”’ birds alone, given above, is a sufficient an- 
swer; but in the aviaries under discussion, the term cap- 
tivity must be understood in quite a relative sense; so 
