Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/281

Rh notably the Parson-finch, Poephila fasciata, and the Ribbon-finch, Amadina fasciata, the former being more than a match for the latter; for I had a hen Ribbon-finch killed by a cock Parsonfinch two or three years ago. Yet individual males of P. fasciata have lived with other small finches for many years on amicable terms, only proving dangerous from the fact that they will pair with any of the tiny Grass-finches, not a few of which consequently die through egg-binding.

With nine good-sized aviaries at my disposal, I find no little difficulty in so sorting out my many birds as to avoid risk to life and limb, and I find the best plan is to mix the various Orders as much as possible. Thus in one aviary I keep the larger Doves, some Chinese Quails, a Yellow Wagtail, a Stonechat, a Paradise Whydah, a Canary or two, and a pair of Parson-finches; the Doves quarrel a little, but otherwise everything goes on smoothly. In another aviary I keep many small finches, both British and foreign, two pairs of Diamond Doves, a Redstart, and a Garden Warbler; and so on.

It has been stated that insectivorous birds and seed-eaters should not be kept together; but, when we consider that most finches are insectivorous, and most of our British insectivorous birds thrive on a partial seed diet, the objection ceases to have any weight. I have seen the American Blue-bird, the English Starling, the Robin, Redstart, and many other insectivorous birds swallow quantities of seed, and benefit greatly in consequence. When finches are breeding, soft food in the aviary becomes a necessity for most of them, and the pan put in for the insectivorous birds is largely resorted to. I have reared many broods of Java Sparrows, Saffron-finches, Zebra-finches, Ribbon-finches, and even a Rosa's Parrakeet, all of which were fed by their parents upon regurgitated food put into the aviaries for my insectivorous birds.